Remember to Check Your Tyres Before Going on Holiday

HANOVER – July 2, 2010: With the holiday season starting, Continental strongly advises all motorists to examine their tyres carefully - not only checking the tread depth, but also looking for any damage that might have occurred to the tread or sidewall.

This could be chipping of the tread lugs or blisters on the side of the tyre. "The long winter has taken a heavy toll on the road surfaces and that puts extra strain on the tyres " warned Eugen Geyer, a tyre specialist working in Continental's Customer Service department. "So now is the time when motorists should look particularly carefully at their tyres and, if in doubt, consult an expert at the tyre shop or specialist garage." The best way to check the tread depth - which should be at least 3 millimetres - is to insert a one euro coin between the tread blocks. If the gold edge is covered, then the tread depth is sufficient (alternatively, if inserting a pound coin, the writing around the edge should be covered). If the tread depth is any less, there is a much increased risk of the dreaded phenomenon of aquaplaning, and braking distances on wet roads are greater.

Tyre pressure should also be checked carefully before setting off on holiday. This should take into account higher speeds and additional load on the car. Geyer advises measuring tyre pressure on the cold tyres. "Longer journeys mean higher tyre temperatures, with inflation rising as a result."

The respective correct values are given in the tyre manual or on stickers in the glove compartment, on the door pillar or inside the tank lid.

Anyone renting a car on their holidays should also check the tyre pressure on their vehicle. The staff working in sunny holiday destinations in particular often do not have enough time to take a look at the tyres - so you are well advised to check them yourself.