Tyre advice launched for scooter riders

A host of new safety information and resources is being made available for the first time to scooter riders in the UK in a bid to help keep them safe on the roads.

The “PACT” campaign, launched by not-for-profit tyre safety organisation TyreSafe, provides riders with a wealth of free advice and tyre maintenance tips, designed to ensure that they remain safe on the road, whatever the conditions.

“Due to their low cost of ownership and their congestion-busting ability, scooters have become an increasingly popular method of transport in recent years,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “However, very often owners have not ridden any other kind of motorcycle so they may be unfamiliar with the considerable demands being placed on their tyres and the need for proper and regular maintenance.”

In order to get the best performance from their tyres, including handling, braking, acceleration and lower fuel bills, TyreSafe is recommending riders make three important weekly checks on their tyres.

Firstly, riders should check that their tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, which can be found in the scooter’s handbook. Under-inflated tyres will wear out quicker, provide less stability and are at greater risk from overheating and suffering a rapid failure.

Riders should also check the condition of their tyres, looking for any cuts, lumps or bulges. The tread area should also be inspected to see if any stones, nails or other objects have become embedded. If the tyre shows any of these signs, it should be checked immediately by a qualified tyre professional.

Finally, to ensure proper grip, especially in wet conditions, riders should check that their tyres have sufficient tread depth. Scooters with less than 50cc need to have all of the grooves of the original tread pattern visible whereas those over 50cc must have at least 1mm of tread depth across the central three quarters of the tyre with visible tread on the remaining quarter.

“It’s very important that scooter riders make these checks at least once a week, and as they only take a few moments to carry out, there’s little excuse for not doing so. What’s more, to show riders what they need to do, we’ve created a very simple animation to help them. Of course, if they’re still in any doubt, then they should visit their local tyre expert who will happily show them what to do,” concludes Jackson.

To view the TyreSafe scooter animation or to any of the campaign’s other resources, visit www.tyresafe.org.

Make a PACT:

For safe riding scooter riders should follow TyreSafe’s PACT advice:

P – Performance, including grip, handling and fuel economy will all be improved with correct tyre care.
A – Air pressure is essential for optimum performance. Pressures should be checked at least once a week using an accurate pressure gauge.
C – Condition is critical to road safety. Inspect tyres for any bulges, cuts, uneven wear or objects embedded in the tread.
T – Tread depth is essential for safety on wet roads. Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1mm (for bikes over 50cc).