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Why is our tyre safer?

Analysing our Super Safe tyre

The Auto Express / Continental Super Safe Tyre

By Will McManus May 2009

  • The number one aim of our campaign – a Best Before date – is clearly visible on the sidewall of the Super Safe tyre, alongside a Made On marking. As our exclusive survey revealed, 88 per cent of drivers are baffled by the fiddly four-figure stamp currently used to spell out the date of manufacture. Our simple version leaves no margin for error, so motorists can monitor their rubber far more easily.
  • It also features a unique UV indicator – which would change colour in the same way as a traffic light as it ages. Exposure to ultra-violet light is a major contributor to tyre wear. So, as the rubber sits out in the sun, the indicator’s different shades would become visible, giving a warning if it’s getting too old.
  • We looked into adding further safety features, such as different-coloured layers of rubber that show how much tread your tyres have remaining.

 
Tyre ageing has been overlooked for a long time, so it’s good that Auto Express has acknowledged the problem -

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Facts and Figures

DETAILS

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AT A GLANCE:

Philip Gomm
Spokesman for the RAC Foundation
 
“It seems perverse that food and drink has to carry Best Before dates, yet tyres do not. We back the call from Auto Express for this information to be clearly marked on tyres, so people can make informed decisions about when to replace their rubber. However, such markings should not remove the onus on individuals to check their tyres regularly for signs of wear or damage, as deterioration

can occur long in advance of a Best Before date.â€

Andrew Howard
The AA’s head of road safety

“People definitely need to know more about tyre ageing. They are told to watch their tread, pressures and
for bulges, but ageing also needs to be highlighted. We’d agree with clarifying the markings on a tyre to make it clearer for drivers.â€

Mike Scanlon
Editor of Tyre Trade News magazine

“Tyre ageing has been overlooked for a long time, so it’s good that Auto Express has acknowledged the problem. Reading your rubber could be made easier, too. People in the trade assume everyone else know the facts and figures. Dealers are the crucial places to target – they are at the coal face, seeing motorists and their tyres every day.â€

James Bailey
Spokesman for Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK

“Everything you do to raise awareness of the importance of tyre safety is valuable. We would like the focus
to be on inspection.â€

A Department for Transport spokesperson

“Tyre performance is down to many factors, like how it is used, the weather it’s exposed to and where it’s stored, so it’s hard to predict how long rubber will last. We encourage regular pressure and condition checks to ensure safety. If drivers are unsure,
we recommend getting advice from a mechanic or tyre specialist.â€

 
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