Madrid X Moto, the largest meeting point between brands, dealers and motorcyclists in Madrid, has been the place chosen by the Group of Tire Manufacturers (Afane) to check both the condition of the tires of those who went there and to take the pulse of how they monitor their condition.
The Group distributed meters to know the level of wear and also carried out a survey among attendees that has revealed significant data on how motorcycle owners in our country take care of this key element for safety.
Afane’s data leaves no room for doubt
As Afane has verified in his measurements, 5.6% of the tires reviewed had a tread depth lower than the legal one. A fact that puts the driver’s safety at risk, since if the depth is less than 1.6 mm there is a loss of grip, especially when there is water on the roads.
“Circulating with a pressure lower than the recommended one causes resistance to movement to increase.”while a higher pressure makes the rubber become more rigid and does not absorb road imperfections”, explains José Luis Rodríguezgeneral director of Afane.
In addition, 48.6% of the tires showed irregular wear, which can be an early warning sign in a country where almost six million motorcycles circulate. This information is in addition to the fact that around 25% also had cracks and damage that require inspection.
Regarding the responsibility of motorists, in the survey carried out Afane has detected that almost half of them46.1%, do not check the tires on a weekly basis and 6.7% carry out this check only annually. According to the representative of the Group:
“Checking the condition of the tires on our motorcycle should be a mandatory step in the minds of all of us who love two wheels. We should not only check the presence of imperfections but also check the pressure, because the behavior of our motorcycle and, therefore, how we enjoy our trip depends on it.”
Especially now that the hot months begin, Afane reminds bikers how high temperatures affect tires. Heat can cause air leaks through the valve. The temperature of the asphalt increases and if we drive on uneven roads, there is a greater probability of getting a puncture. More awareness of these precautions means more safety and, therefore, greater enjoyment of all the possibilities that traveling on two wheels offers.
