Photo Credit: Idiolector via Compfight cc

Today I’m welcoming the team at Point S to the blog to talk about the important issue of tyres. OK, so it might not be the most exciting of subjects, but did you know that the tyres on your car are an ESSENTIAL part of your car safety? Of course you did. Well read on to find out how your tyres could be keeping your family safe next time you drive somewhere…

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When is the last time you checked your tyres? Be honest, it probably wasn’t that recently. A car’s tyres are, of course, an essential part of the driving system, but you should never underestimate the significant part they play in road safety. Most of us mums wouldn’t dream of driving off on a journey without strapping the kids in with a suitable and age-appropriate booster seat. We wouldn’t think of heading out on the road without wearing a seatbelt ourselves, would we?

But when it comes to the condition of our car’s tyres there can be a bit of a problem. If you have not checked yours for a while, then perhaps it is time you do so today.

Tyres as a Safety System

The traction of a car’s tyres is not simply there to transfer the energy from the engine to the road, although this is an important function. All mass-produced cars have to be tested these days to demonstrate they can function safely in a lot of different weather conditions. This means the tyres that are fitted need to be suited to the size and weight of the vehicle.

There must also be a specified amount of air pumped into each wheel so that the tyre can function at its best. With the right tyres under the correct level of pressure, traction is improved. This helps with fuel efficiency, but more crucially – in terms of safety – it allows the driver to stop the car rapidly when the brakes are applied.

Because the tyres of your car have grooves – also known as tread – more grip is maintained on the road. This level of grip, which comes from the gouged lines that run around the tyre, helps the car to corner without spinning off, as well as reducing the stopping distance when emergency braking. In wet weather, the tread also disperses water underneath the wheel, so the chances of aquaplaning and subsequently skidding are reduced.

Which Tyres Are Best?

Each car maker will specify the size of tyre needed for your model of car. To keep you and your family safe when on the road, always adhere to this specification and avoid buying part-worn tyres. Although they may be legal, they are not always the safest option.

Economy tyres can seem like a good option, but instead consider premium tyres from an expert seller, such as Point S. These can last longer, saving your money in the long run, but they also have better safety functions, too. This will help you to brake, corner and maintain control in wet conditions – something that is highly desired by nearly all parents.

What about Snow?

If you need to travel with your family in snowy conditions, stick to the main roads which have been gritted, if you have normal tyres. If you are travelling somewhere more remote, then consider adding snow chains to your tyres to improve their traction. Alternatively, ask your tyre dealer about winter tyres, an increasingly popular choice among safety-conscious motorists.

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This is a commissioned post written by Point S. For more information please see my disclosure page. 

The post Let’s talk about tyres (and not the one around my middle) appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

It’s got old carpet instead of car mats, is more than ten years old and doesn’t go very fast. It’s the kind of car you park at the other end of the car park just so no one can see you get out of it.

But I don’t care. In fact, I’ve always been perversely proud of my little banger. It’s served me well (kind of) and has been pretty dependable. I like the fact it hardly costs me anything to run and is so small I can park it almost anywhere.

I’ve never understood the snobbery that comes with owning a certain type of car and have always pitied others who make judgments about people with rubbish cars like mine. Surely a car just needs to get you from A to B safely?

Aren’t I an enlightened person? A car socialist, if you will. I don’t make assumptions about people based on their material possessions. Oh no, not me.

Except for buggies.

Shoot me now. I’ve become one of them.  A fully fledged member of the Buggy Snob Brigade. And I have no idea how or when this happened.

It first occurred to me on my way to a real life meeting with Northern Mummy with Southern Children. As she lives just down the road, we’d agreed to meet up for a cup of tea. Much to the trepidation of NLM, who thought she may either be a pervy old man or a swinger (yep, I have no idea), I merrily set off.

And then the fear set in.

Frog’s recently grown out of her old car seat, you see. Meaning we can’t use the big buggy for the car anymore, because the new car seat won’t clip into it. Gone is the flash, handle-adjusting, reclining, four-wheel drive fancy pants Mama’s & Papa’s buggy. In its place is a fold-up freebie kindly donated to us by our next door neighbours. And it’s not fancy at all.

Don’t get me wrong, it does the job. It’s convenient and easy to fold away. It doesn’t require a PHD in Buggy Handling to maneuver. But it’s oh so plain.

I never thought I would be one of these people. The type to worry about what others thought of me because of the type of car buggy I’m driving. I thought I was better than that.

Obviously not.

As I was walking to my rendezvous point with Northern Mum I started to wonder if she’d judge me poorly for my plain buggy. Should I explain my “proper” buggy’s at home, resting it’s huge fancy wheels and adjusting handle-bars? Is she going to mistakenly assume I don’t belong to the Buggy Elite? Will she have turned up in the Porsche of the buggy world, the Bugaboo. Or even worse, the Quinny. Should I park my buggy round the corner and simply carry Frog, to save all embarrassment?

I needn’t have worried. On leaving the café, I looked around for Northern Mum’s buggy. It was nowhere to be seen. “Oh I don’t bother with the buggy most of the time” she said. “I prefer to use the sling”.

Damn.

Fancy pants buggy

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