ABU DHABI // Experts have called for stricter tyre regulations and publicity campaigns to increase awareness about the dangers of unsafe and improperly maintained tyres.
"Regulations should be tightened to prevent the importation and selling of tyres of low standards as well as Temperature B and C category tyres," said Dr Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor at the University of Sharjah.
From highest to lowest, a tyre’s resistance to heat is graded as A, B and C. A is classified as the best, B is intermediate and C is acceptable.
“Some drivers buy Temperature B or C category tyres despite knowing that UAE has hot summers, and they should buy only Category A tyres,” he said.
Faulty tyres caused 13 traffic accidents in January and February this year in which one person died and three were injured, according to Abu Dhabi Police.
The police logged 7,603 offences against motorists for using defective tyres during the same period. Poor-quality tyres caused 53 accidents in 2012, killing 13 and seriously injuring 28.
“This is an unnecessary pain and waste of lives and resources that could have easily been avoided,” said Dr Bendak, who has published a scientific article on tyre safety.
Many motorists pay little attention to selecting the correct tyre for their vehicle and opt for a cheaper solution, according to Shoichi Sakuma, president of Bridgestone Middle East and Africa.
“What they might not realise is that fitting the wrong tyre to their vehicle is highly dangerous,” he said. “In the UAE, tyre quality is regulated by the GCC Standardisation Organisation and to ensure safety, motorists should only buy tyres that meet the standards.”
Publicity campaigns emphasising temperature grades, age, inside air pressure, existence of cracks and manufacturing dates should be a priority, said Dr Bendak.
In Abu Dhabi, there is a continuing campaign to raise awareness about the risks of buying poor quality or counterfeit branded tyres, Lt Col Jamal Salem Al Ameri, head of public relations at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said on Tuesday.
“Michelin applauds the great initiative of the Abu Dhabi police,” said Terry Khokhar, product marketing manager of passenger cars at Michelin Africa, India and Middle East. “Faulty tyres are usually linked to used tyres or to poor-quality new tyres, which may try to pass themselves off as coming from an established manufacturer.”
The company has reached out to more than 2,000 schoolchildren with its Michelin Man Academy, a programme that educates and empowers children to become road safety ambassadors, said Hany Abdulsamad, Michelin’s marketing manager in the UAE and Oman.
In the heat of the UAE summer, vehicles with low tyre pressure pose an increased risk.
“Under-inflation causes friction within the tyre, which causes it to run hotter,” Mr Khokhar said. “The tyre runs at a temperature higher that it was designed for and it eventually results in a breakdown of its internal structure.”
Tyre exteriors should be checked daily for any visible signs of damage, such as cracks and irregular wear, before drivers start their journeys, said Mr Sakuma.
The Bridgestone Tyre and Safety Eco Station roadshow is expected to stop in the UAE in June. Visitors will learn how to check tyre pressure, tread wear and other safety measures. “Tyre pressure should be checked once a month as air pressure reduces naturally,” Mr Sakuma said. “Tread wear should also be checked regularly as worn out tread poses grave danger and the tyre must be replaced immediately.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
