With two Bank Holiday weekends coming up in the space of just a few weeks, TyreSafe is urging bikers to ‘bank’ on its PACT campaign for improved bike performance and safer riding.
While tyre safety is important all year round, the spring Bank Holiday weekends often mark the start of the spring and summer riding seasons for many motorcyclists, sometimes after their bikes have been left in storage over the winter months.
This year Good Friday falls on 6th April and Easter Monday on 9th April. They are quickly followed by the May Bank Holiday on the 7th of that month.
And to help bikers make the most of their ride outs, TyreSafe has launched its PACT campaign, which stands for – Performance, Air, Condition and Tread. In essence, if riders make a PACT with their bike and ensure they check their tyres for air pressure, overall condition and tread depth then they will get better performance including improved handling, grip and fuel economy.
Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, explains: “If tyres are inflated to their optimum level then they will provide better fuel economy and also last longer. The other benefits include improved grip, performance, reliability and a more satisfying and safer ride.
“So it really does make sense to ‘bank’ on our PACT advice and make the most of this year’s spring biking season.”
To help riders get ready, many tyre retailer and bike dealers across the UK will be supporting the campaign by offering free tyre safety checks. TyreSafe has also added some dedicated motorcycle tyre safety advice to its website, www.tyresafe.org.
Indeed, spring is a particularly important time for motorcycle tyre maintenance as many riders will be embarking on their first ride of the year after leaving their bikes in storage over winter.
TyreSafe advises riders to seek professional advice when checking their tyres but for those doing so themselves then it reiterates that particular attention should be paid to ensure that there are no cuts, cracks or bulges, and riders must ensure there is adequate tread depth to meet legal requirements. Motorcyclists should also ensure tyres are inflated to the correct pressures.
For safe spring riding, 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 maximum 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 cuts, bulges, 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).
