Check tyres before holiday trip

Drive safely and save fuel

For safe and fuel saving driving check the air pressure and condition of your tyres. Every second car is on the road with the wrong tyre pressure, warns tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres. This may have serious consequences. High summer temperatures, heavy luggage and high speed put the tyres under stress. Seven per cent of all break-downs are caused by defective wheels and tyres according to the German Automobile association ADAC break-down statistics 2008. The tyre equipment was responsible for 1184 accidents with bodily injury in 2009, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany states. If the tyre pressure of one front wheel is 1 bar too low the braking distance is extended by ten per cent on wet roads, as the ADAC proved in driving tests. It becomes dangerous in the curve, too. If all tyres have an inflation pressure of 1 bar too low, the lateral grip of the tyres is reduced to nearly half (55 per cent). Then the driver can lose control over his car, the vehicle can start skidding and skid off the road. The risk is even greater with heavy load.

Tyres being too low on pressure also increase fuel consumption. With 0.4 bar lower pressure a car consumes two per cent more fuel in the average, and the wear of the tyre is 30 per cent bigger. Especially on long holiday trips and regarding high fuel prices in the holiday season eco tyres pay off.

“Low rolling resistance eco tyres like Nokian H for compact cars or even ultra high performance tyres with relatively low rolling resistance like Nokian Z G2 can save up to half a litre of fuel per 100 kilometres”, recommends Teppo Huovila, Vice President R & D. “A rolling resistance lowered by 40 per cent saves six per cent fuel. This is 300 Euros less over a driving distance of 40000 kilometres. Furthermore these tyres produce less CO2 emissions. Both premium tyres are “very recommendable” according to the ADAC test.”

If tyres have too little air, they can even tear because of the bigger flexing work. But also damages like cracks, cuts or bulges can lead to blow-outs. Too high pressure reduces the safety, too, as then the contact area is smaller, fewer grip can be transformed, and the tyre wears only in the middle.

Safety also depends on the tyre profile. The DSI driving safety indicator on the Nokian tyres shows the groove depth as a number between 8 and 2. An aquaplaning indicator warns of aquaplaning with a water drop symbol. It fades when the remaining profile is only four millimetres, pointing to a higher risk. To avoid aquaplaning and to have a short enough braking distance in the wet the main grooves must have a minimum depth of four millimetres. Erased spots in the profile may indicate defective shock absorbers.

The tyres of Nokian Tyres are developed, tested and manufactured in the demanding conditions of the north. They offer the best possible performance even in the most extreme conditions. The specialist from Finland even offers the DSI satisfaction: If a buyer is not content by any reason with his new summer tyres bought at an authorized Nokian contract dealer, he is allowed to exchange them there for another set of tyres within 14 days. Mounting and balancing are free of charge.

Check the air pressure always with cold tyres, a higher pressure is necessary with heavy load. You find the correct inflation pressures at the fuel filler flap or in the instruction manual. The driver should check in due time, it would be best some days before the holiday trip in order to have still enough time for changing tyres if necessary.

Nokian Tyres s.r.o
Phone +420 222 507 761
Fax +420 241 940 635
dieter.koppner(at)nokiantyres.com
V Parku 2336/22
148 00 Praha 4
Czech Republic

Photo download:
https://www.nokiantyres.com/savefuel

Video download:
https://www.nokiantyres.com/savefuel

Sources:

„Seven per cent of all break-downs are caused by defective wheels and tyres according to the German Automobile association ADAC break-down statistics 2008.”:

„The tyre equipment was responsible for 1184 accidents with bodily injury in 2009, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany states.“:

„If the tyre pressure of one front wheel is only 1 bar too low the braking distance is extended by ten per cent on wet roads, as the ADAC proved in driving tests. It becomes dangerous in the curve, too. If all tyres have an inflation pressure of 1 bar too low, the lateral grip of the tyres is reduced to nearly half (55 per cent)..“:

Further data: Nokian Tyres Research & Development

Press contact:
Dr. Falk Köhler PR
Dr. Falk Köhler
Phone: +49 40 54 73 12 12
Fax: +49 40 54 73 12 22
E-mail: Dr.Falk.Koehler(at)Dr-Falk-Koehler.de
Ödenweg 59
22397 Hamburg
Germany

Further information:
Nokian Tyres s.r.o
Business Director Central Europe
Dieter Köppner, Phone: +420 222 507 761
Product Development Manager
Sven Dittmann Dipl.-Ing., Phone: +49 8143 / 444 850

Nokian Tyres plc
Vice President R & D
Teppo Huovila, Phone: +358 10 401 7701
Product Manager
Petri Niemi, Phone: +358 10 401 7646

E-mail: [email protected]