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The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has warned that driving with a vehicle with worn tires can become sanctioned with up to 800 euros200 for each wheel, in accordance with the Traffic regulations.
The DGT reminds that deficiencies in tires can cause serious road safety problems. However, according to tire manufacturer Bridgestone, half of drivers don’t check their tires and three out of ten cars have aged or defective tires.
Professionals recommend taking “a few minutes to check the good condition of the pattern, the depth of the main tread grooves and the air pressure”. They emphasize from the DGT that these defects affect grip, braking, energy efficiency, vehicle handling and the ability to evacuate water, sand or pebbles.
In short, “tyres in good condition determine the safety of the vehicle and that of its occupants.”
The most common mistakes
The DGT highlights what are the most frequent failures among Spaniards in the use of tires:
– Excessive or low pressure. It must be checked regularly, since if it is excessive it causes a very pronounced wear in the center of the belt and if it is too low it harms the ends.
– Using the wrong tire. A tire that is too narrow or too wide can cause pronounced wear in the center or at the ends of the tread.
– Incorrect alignment. When the damage to the tires is located only on one of the sides of the tread, the error is usually in the alignment dimensions or the parallelism between the axes. An error of only 2.5 in the adjustment of an axis can increase fuel consumption by 16%.
– Pressure not matched to load. When the car is going to carry much more load than usual, it is advisable to raise the pressure to the maximum recommended, even a little higher to minimize the risk of damage to the tread.
– Bad tire choice. The choice of the tire must be made according to the habitual use of the vehicle, its load and the type of surfaces that it is going to cover. In addition to choosing the type of rubber, it is also advisable to take into account the driving style, the temperatures and the type of road on which you are going to drive.
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