Christelle Fourie, Managing Director of MUA Insurance Acceptances
A significant deterioration has been recorded in the safety of tyres on South Africa’s roads over the last year, according to the results of a new survey. As a result motorists are being urged to check their tyres before setting off on long journeys as any insurance claim as a result of an accident due to poor tyre maintenance could be repudiated.
Bridgestone, which is conducting a series of regional tyre safety checks around the country, found that 6% of tyres already surveyed were below the legal tread depth, an increase on the 4% recorded last year. The first survey, which took place in Kimberley, also revealed that a worrying 17% of tyres fell into the ‘dangerous’ or ‘extremely dangerous’ categories for under-inflation compared with 14% in the previous year.
According to Christelle Fourie, Managing Director of MUA Insurance Acceptances, smooth tyres with a tread below the legal limit of 1.6mm, significantly increases the likelihood of an accident and a subsequent insurance claim being rejected. “If the insurer determines the cause of the accident is as a direct result of poor tyre maintenance on the part of the consumer then it is possible that a claim will be repudiated.”
“As a result, it is essential for consumers to check their tyres regularly not only to mitigate the possibility of an accident occurring but also to prevent the likelihood of a claim being rejected.”
Fourie says it is advisable for motorists to check their tyre tread ahead of any long trip, but says if this is not practical it should be monitored once every three to four months. “Consumers do not always factor in the danger that a low tyre tread can pose. However, if the tyre does not have a sufficient grip on the road it can cause them to lose control, especially in wet weather conditions.”
She advises that most insurance companies will only pay for damage to tyres if the driver hits a pothole or if the rims or any other part of the vehicle is also damaged. “If you hit a pothole and your car has been damaged, it is a good idea to take a photo and get the exact location of the pothole as well as its size by adding a pen to determine the scale.”
“It is a good idea to have some visual evidence in the event that the pothole has been covered by the time the claim is investigated, as the onus may be on the driver to prove that the damage was caused by a specific pothole, at a specific place.”
Fourie says another important factor to keep in mind is that once the tyre tread is aligned to the tread indicator lines - the small horizontal ridge seen periodically between the vertical lines within the tyre - the tyre then loses its manufacturer warranty.
Fourie says there are some important checks that consumers can make to extend the lifespan of tyres and decrease the possibility of accidents occurring. “It is important to check for both over- and under-inflation, as well as monitoring tyre pressure, tyre wear and wheel alignment. Most importantly, tyre sizes, speed and load ratings must also conform to the specifications in the vehicle owner’s manual. This also reduces the risk of a claim being rejected in the event of an accident.”
She says that alongside regular tyre checks, there are a number of other important checks that motorists should carry out before travelling in wet and unpredictable weather conditions, such as windscreen wipers, de-misters, brakes and shock absorbers.
“Just remember when you are driving that the four tyres are the most important components between you and the road. If you suspect any damage to the tyres, then it is critical to consult a tyre expert to avoid accidents and any possible claim repudiations,” concludes Fourie.
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