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Safe DRIVING

Why Do Tyres Matter?

Tyres are usually taken for granted. Until the road puts them to the test.

It's the tyres that stop the car

When it comes to safety, tyres are the most important component on your vehicle.
The brakes stop the wheels, not your car! It's actually your tyres that stop it.

Let's take a closer look:
Here, rubber meets the road:

The contact area is the size of the palm of your hand.

And this is all where it happens:
Breaking, Traction, Handling, Steering, Comfort
On such small area, a failure at high speed could have serious consequences.

Your safety also depends on you.

You took time to choose your car.
Taking time to choose your tyre is just as important.

 

We can all recall stressful situations where our tyres made the difference:

Think of that bike that came from nowhere,

 

 

that driver in front of you suddenly braking,
that dog crossing the street (small illustration),

 

 

this difficult journey under a wall of rain.

 

Your safety does not just depend on the way that you or others are driving.

It depends equally on your choice of tyres.
For your peace of mind (and your family’s...), take the time to choose well!

But how do I choose the right tyre?

To help you compare and choose, look at 4 different aspects:

1.Safety

Most tyres perform well in everyday situations, but difficult conditions will reveal their differences.

So how do you make sure that your tyres are ready for the unexpected?

Choose tyres that can perform well in the worst types of weather or roads that you may encounter.
And the difference can be huge:
On wet roads, our tyres can stop up to 6 meters shorter than another premium tyre brand on the exact same car.That is almost the distance of 1 and a half cars!

Based on internal wet braking test results of MICHELIN Primacy 3ST and Bridgestone Ecopia EP100a Touring tyre size 205/55R16

Not all tyres are equal – choosing the right ones can keep you safe.

safety
Value

2.Value

Making a compromise now could mean spending more later. Why? Because tyres that last longer and help you to save fuel allow you to save in the long run.

Get more efficient tyres now, replace them much later! (And forget about shopping for tyres for a while)

3.Enjoy the ride

Like a shoe, a tyre needs to fit you perfectly.

  1. Take any car
  2. Try a different set of tyres

You end up with an entyrely different driving experience.

So, do you like a comfortable drive or precision handling to take that corner like a pro?

Make sure that your tyre reflects your style.

Enjoy the ride
Sport Car

4.Sport Car?

A sprinter doesn't want to run in slippers.
Neither does your car.

A sport or luxury car won’t feel like one unless the tyres can translate its power to the road.

See our Pilot Sport tyres

All in one

Thanks to the MICHELIN Total Performance touch, you can rest assured that you get all of these in each of our tyres.
More on MICHELIN Total Performance

Keep your tyres safe

Most of us have notions of safe driving.
But what about keeping tyres safe?
A few simple things can help to avoid unfortunate experiences.

  • Air Pressure: what should I know?

    General Guidelines

    • Check the pressure of all your tyres monthly, including the spare. Even if you don’t see any damage, tyres can lose up to 1 psi – pounds per square inch – every month. This can be accelerated by air leaks due to accidental puncture, leaks in the valve or valve cap, or by wheel malfunction.
    • Check your tyre pressure before making a long trip.
    • For the best results, check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cool – before driving the car or if it has covered less than 3 KM at low speed.
    • If the tyre is hot, add 4-5 psi to the car manufacturer's recommended pressure value or wait until it has cooled down, which is an average of three hours after parking the car.
    • Never deflate a hot tyre.

    How do I check my tyre pressure?

    1. Insert the pressure gauge into the valve stem on your tyre.
    2. The gauge will “pop” out and show a number that coresponds to the internal pressure in the psi number.
    3. The hissing sound is air escaping the tyre. It shouldn’t affect pressure substantially, unless you hold down the air-pressure gauge for too long.
    4. Compare the measured psi to the recommended psi.
    5. If the psi is above the recommended number, let air out until they match. If it's below, add air until it reaches the proper number.

    Where can I find the recommended pressure for my tyres?

    • In the vehicle owner's manual.
    • On a sticker on the driver's door or the fuel tank door.
    • Do not use the number on your tyre’s sidewall, as this does not indicate the pressure needed in your tyre.

    About pressure gauges

    • Be careful if you are using a pressure gauge provided in a service station. The pressure gauges are often unreliable.
    • Buy a high-quality pressure gauge and check its accuracy with a tyre professional.

    Getting it right is important

    • Under-inflated or over-inflated tyres can wear down faster than expected, have reduced grip and can consume more fuel. It just takes a few minutes a month to help ensure your safety and the longevity of your tyres.

  • Nitrogen: what are the benefits?

    What is nitrogen?

    Nitrogen is simply dry air with the oxygen removed. Air contains nearly 79% nitrogen.

    How is it used?

    • Most tyres are filled with compressed air. But some tyre retailers have started to put nitrogen into their tyres.
    • Nitrogen and compressed air can be mixed.
    • Most tyres can be inflated with air or nitrogen, as long as the pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer are respected.

    The benefits:

    When nitrogen replaces oxygen, less air can escape your tyres, and your inflation pressure stays higher longer.

    Tyre inspection:

    Unfortunately, there are other possible sources of leaks (tyre/rim interface, valve, valve/rim interface and the wheel), which means that there's no guarantee of maintained pressure with either air or nitrogen. The pressure and overall tyre condition must still be checked frequently.

  • Valve: what should I know?

    What is the role of the valve?

    • It ensures that the proper tyre pressure is maintained.
    • It blocks moisture from entering the tyre.
    • The valve cap is particularly important to help block dust particles from obstructing the valve. High-quality caps are recommended.

    Ageing and damages

    • Valves are usually made of rubber and therefore age with time.
    • They can be damaged by high speeds causing air to leak from your tyres.

    When should I change the valves?

    Whenever you buy new tyres.

  • How to check if you have enough tread left

    General

    In order to effectively grip the road, evacuate water and maintain control, your tyres need to have a safe amount of remaining tread. If the grooves in the tyre design have almost disappeared, the tyre will simply not grip the road as well. This is particularly dangerous in wet or wintry conditions.

    • Plus, if you drive with tyres under the legal tread limit, you may be fined.
    • You should check the wear of your tyres regularly. If your tyres are approaching the legal limit or if you have any doubts, get them checked by a tyre professional. Or see below how to check it yourself.

    Two methods

    1- Check the tread wear with a tread-depth gauge

    • Make sure that the hand brake is on and the car is in first gear (for manual gearboxes) or park (for automatics).
    • Check the depth of the main tread grooves in several places across and around the tyre, using the gauge as instructed by its manufacturer.
    • The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm.

    2- Check the tread wear indicators

    • Tyres have tread-wear indicators moulded into the base of the main grooves.
    • When the tread surface is worn to the same level as these indicators, the tyre is at the legal limit and should be replaced.

  • Tyre rotation: what should I know?

    What is it?

    During rotation, each tyre and wheel is removed from your vehicle and moved to a different position to ensure that all tyres wear evenly and last longer.

    When should I do it?

    "Tyres should be rotated every six months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles. 10,000 kilometers However, check your owner's manual to see if there is a recommended rotation scheme."

    Benefits:

    Since the position of the tyre on your vehicle can affect how it wears down, regular rotation helps to ensure that tyres wear evenly, extending the life of your tyres and improving performance.

  • Tyre alignment: what should I know? (also known as "Suspension alignment")

    Tyre alignment is a simple process, which may require slight adjustment of front and/or rear suspension components. If your alignment is off, your vehicle isn’t safe to drive.

    When should I have my tyre wheel alignment checked?

    • You’ve hit a sizable object on the road.
    • You see a wear pattern developing on the shoulders (outer edges) of the tyres.
    • You notice a difference in your vehicle’s handling or when you are steering.
    • When you replace suspension or steering components.
    • At least every 10,000 kilometers.

    A few things to watch for:

    • Your vehicle pulls or drifts to one side, when you are travelling on a straight, flat road.
    • Your steering wheel does not return easily after a turn.
    • Your steering wheel remains at an angle when driving in a straight line.

    Why is important?

    • To minimise wear and tear on your vehicle and to maximise driver and passenger comfort.
    • To reduce wear on your tyres, help to increase their life and performance, and improve fuel economy.
    • To improve handling and driving safety by reducing steering and stability problems.

    How are wheels aligned? The details

    There are three main adjustments made during alignment:

    • Camber: if you’re viewing from the front of the vehicle, camber is the angle of the wheel, in degrees.
    • Caster: if you’re viewing the side of a vehicle, the caster angle identifies the forward or backward slope of a line drawn through the upper and lower steering pivot points.
    • Toe: it’s the difference in the distance between the front of the tyres and the back of the tyres.

  • Tyre balancing: what should I know?

    What is it?

    • Sometimes when tyres are mounted the distribution of weight of the tyre+wheel assembly is not perfectly even all around the tyre.
    • A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. The result is bouncing or wobbling, which can decrease tread life, increase vibration and cause stress on your vehicle.
    • Tyre balancing compensates for the weight differences to make sure that the tyre weight is balanced. Tyre professionals will add weights where necessary to counterbalance the tyres.

    When should I balance my tyres?

    • When a tyre is replaced
    • When a balance weight is moved or removed
    • When you purchase new tyres

    How are wheels balanced?

    1. To balance a wheel, your mechanic uses a balancing machine to determine where the heavy spots are.
    2. Weights are then attached to the exterior or interior of the wheel to counteract the centrifugal forces acting on the heavy areas when the wheel is turning.

    Any advice?

    If you ever feel bouncing, wobbling or vibrations, consult a tyre professional quickly.

A safer ride

A few good things to be reminded of…
and maybe even a few tips you didn’t know about!

Safe driving

  • Safe driving on the motorway

    • Always observe motorway speed limits.
    • Activate your indicators well in advance before overtaking or changing lanes.
    • Don't turn suddenly or you may lose control of your car and roll over.
    • Take regular breaks. Don't drive while tyred.

  • Safe driving at night

    • Give your eyes some time to adjust to the light and shadows.
    • Tilt your rear view mirror slightly to reduce the dazzling effect of the car headlights behind you or change to night setting, if your rear view mirror has this option.
    • Don't look directly at the headlights from cars travelling in the opposite direction.
    • Don’t drive too fast: visibility is reduced at night, making it hard for you to see the road ahead.

  • Safe driving in fog

    Visibility deteriorates in fog:

    • Turn on your dipped headlight and fog lights.
    • Reduce your speed and refrain from overtaking.
    • Leave enough time to react in an emergency by keeping a safe braking distance from the vehicle in front of you.

  • Safe driving in wind

    • Reduce your speed. Be prepared to stop at any time.
    • Close all windows. An open window can attract airborne particles like dust that can affect visibility.
    • Keep an eye out for people or debris being blown onto the road.
    • Be aware that people may not hear your horn during strong windy conditions.
    • If you’re carrying cargo on your vehicle, make sure that it’s tied down securely.
    • Be very careful passing high-sided vehicles especially in exposed areas or on bridges.

  • Safe driving in mountain areas

    Before driving:

    • Prior to setting off, check your brakes; test them and check the brake fluid.
    • Carry the tools necessary in case you break down (for a full list see see Precautions and Emergencies).
    • Check the condition of your spare tyre: the appropriate pressure is especially important.
    • Carry extra food, appropriate clothing and emergency aids.
    • Check the weather and road conditions in the mountain area and choose your route wisely.
    • Tell at least one other person where and when you are travelling and when you are due back so they can alert the emergency services If you don't return on time.

    While driving:

    • Sound your horn in advance if your view is blocked during cornering.
    • Drive carefully and slow down in turns, especially when your view is blocked.
    • Never speed or overtake on sharp bends where you may not see oncoming vehicles.

  • Safe driving in mud

    Simple ways to decide if you can get across the mud:

    • When there’s heavy mud on the road or if you’re driving off-road, stop your vehicle and inspect the hardness and depth of the mud before driving through it.
    • Observe the tyre tracks of other vehicles to gauge the depth and consistency of the mud.
    • Determine the type of the vehicles that have left the track from the sizes and widths of the track. Use that information as a reference to decide if you can get across.

Need some help?

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Michelin New Zealand
Customer Service
Tyreline Distributors Ltd.
PO Box 8057
Hamilton

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