Bike tyre safety 'must be kept in mind'

Date: 18/3/2011

As the weather improves, many UK bikers may be preparing to take their first ride out and with this in mind, motorcycle manufactures have been asked to get behind a road safety scheme.

TyreSafe is to launch Bike Tyre Safety Month in April in an effort to ensure that riders stay both protected and legal when they take a journey on two wheels.

Before they head out, motorcycle owners are advised to check their tyres for any bulges, cracks or cuts that signify damage, in addition to making sure that the tread depth meets legal requirements.

It is also worth inflating wheels to the correct pressure before taking the bike for a spin, the group notes.

Chairman of TyreSafe Stuart Jackson says: "If tyres have been stored poorly over the winter break then they could have suffered rubber deterioration and loss of pressure, which may make them unsafe or illegal, so it is vital they are given a thorough inspection before heading out."

The campaign body recently announced that the Highways Agency has been granted full member status with it and is now helping raise awareness of the importance of keeping wheels in a good working order.

Posted by Sarah Bailey