Getting Where You Want To Go Without "Sparing" Any Time
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| Make sure that your tires have enough tread left and that they're right for the season. This time of year if it's not snowing in one part of Canada it's usually raining in another. Bald tires are an accident waiting to happen. |
The snowsuits are coming off and the swimsuits are coming out. Spring is just around the corner and people are preparing for the warm weather and sunshine. Road trip vacations are in the air for many high-school and college students; not to mention families. While planning your ideal getaway it's important to remember to prepare the most critical make it or break it element in any road trip, the car.
But while inspecting it don't forget the tires. Michelin are volunteering safety information to road-trippers everywhere so that they can make sure to arrive at their designated destinations without having to "spare" any valuable time!
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| The shallow grooves and worn sipes on the half-tread tire (at right) hint at the potential lost wet-weather grip when compared with the relatively new identical twin. Tests show that rain and snow traction can decline significantly even with half the tread intact. (Photo: Consumer Reports) |
Mac Demere, a test track driver for Michelin who is committed to educating travelers about road safety, comments that, "Students often travel long distances in packed cars when heading to their spring break destinations, pushing their tires to the limits during these extended road trips. We want to make people aware that it's important, for safety reasons, to thoroughly inspect their tires especially before taking long trips."
Michelin has collected statistics that show 28% of people aged 18-30 have never changed a tire. This astounding number was the highest percentile in all age ranges surveyed. Furthermore, 26% of the surveyed vehicle operators do not own a tire gauge, an instrument used to measure tire pressure - critical to tire safety.