Dubai: In a bid to educate motorists about the importance of tyre safety and maintenance, Bridgestone launched its Safety Station initiative at the Dubai Marina Mall on Saturday, where a number of tyres were on display to emphasise the differences between worn, punctured and brand new tyres.
“Safety Station aims to teach customers about tyre maintenance and safety, which includes things like how to spot certain markers that identify the age or wear of a tyre,” Prasad C.K., General Manager of Bridgestone Gulf, East Africa and Nigeria, said.
“Every tyre manufacturer embosses a marker on the brim of the wheel that helps motorists discern the remaining lifetime of a tyre,” he said, “Bridgestone uses triangular markers, which are scattered around the wheel. The tip of the triangle leads the eye to other markers situated inside the treads of the wheel. Once those markers are visible or levelled with the tread, a tyre’s performance and safety is compromised.”
At that point, motorists are urged to change their tyre as soon as possible.
“Worn tyres do not brake as intended, neither do they allow for sharp turns and are likely to skid out of control,” Prasad C.K. said, “Basically, the car won’t have an ideal grip on the driving surface. The tyre treads are designed to give a car better traction, steering control, braking and performance on wet surfaces. Once those treads are worn, a motorist should replace the car’s tyres.”
Prasad C.K. also warned against continuously inflating a deflated tyre.
“Many people deal with the problem of a deflated tyre by simply inflating it and moving on,” he said. “This could cause serious damage and will cause the tyre to burst. Motorists should consult a professional if a tyre keeps deflating as there may be a problem in the inner lining of the wheel.”
Tubeless tyres, C.K. Prasad said, lose air gradually and will not immediately be noticeable to the driver.
“However, for tyres with tubes, the effect is noticeable sooner,” he said, “as control over the vehicle will be impaired and the steering wheel will start vibrating.”
Julius Borines, training specialist at Bridgestone, said motorists must be aware of how much air pressure should be present in a tyre.
“Every vehicle manufacturer labels the suggested air pressure level on a sticker at the breadth of the driver-side car door,” he said. “It is recommended that motorists follow those instruction for their own safety. Too much air pressure and the tyre will have less contact surface with the road. Too little, and the tyre and the steel band present in the tyre will be subject to overheating.”
Borines said the steel band will be flattened against the road. At a kilometre’s length, the steel band will flex about 700 times, causing it to overheat and eventually “the bond between rubber and steel will give way”.
Borines said a serial number on the face of the wheel can be used to identify its production date.
“The four numbers on the serial number signify the week and year of the tyre’s production,” he said. “For instance, 1515 would signify the 15th week of 2015.”
Borines said the Safety Station initiative was part of Bridgestone’s CSR programme.
“The Safety Station booth will move around the city with our mascot Four Cee, who stands for convenience, confidence, comfort, and care. The project will also be launched at our First Stop branches, situated in Al Quoz, Jebel Ali, and Tasjeel. We will also be opening a new branch soon in Al Ghusais.”
