On Monday, 7th July, 2025, I visited Apo Mechanic village in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. It was my first in over five years. It was also the first time in years that I went there. My mission was simple but financially difficult and I believe every car owner can testify. It was to sample prizes of tyres, hoping to get a good buy and a standard one
Ifeanyi, my brother from another mother, was the dealer I contacted. On a good day, I would have to choose Michelin, Dunlop, and Pirelli tyres. They were my regular until the economy gave me a deadly uppercut. Three hundred and twenty thousand Naira was coughed out by your dear and beloved brother before I could part with four new tyres. My colleague in the same Church who drives a handa shocked me when he said he bought just one tyre for one hundred and twenty thousand naira while another who drives a highlander SUV spent about six hundred thousand naira to get four tires. I am not an economist and so would leave the matter for economists to debate, but I can confess that I have not slept well since I bought the tyres.
Instinctively, I am tempted to check my account balance to be sure no one duped me. Each time I do, I stumble on what Ifeanyi took from me.
Some years back, that amount would provide four tyres plus another four, depending on the year, but I am glad I got the tyres because my ‘tala tolon’ car has come back to shape like a lady does after the deception called make-up.
In honour of the rising cases of tyre burst and speed, I have decided to first x-ray the safety value of tires. Allow football lovers including my humble self-grieve enough for our dear Diogo Jota before I dwell on the incident that took his life and threw the football family into grief.
For those whose plight looks like mine, please I advise that you change those tyres and live. It might be the difference between driving alive or kissing Mother Earth goodbye. If you are in doubt, please read through this to see how the functionality of the car, its efficiency, balance, speed, among others, depend on the state of your tyres.
Tyres are often overlooked in favour of more visible components. Yet tyres are the sole point of contact between a vehicle and the road. Their condition and proper maintenance directly influence a vehicle’s handling, braking, acceleration, and overall stability, making them a critical factor in accident prevention and occupant safety.
This write-up will examine the multifaceted safety importance of tyres, emphasising their role in various driving conditions, the impact of proper maintenance, and the dangers associated with tire neglect.
At their core, tyres are engineered to perform several vital functions that contribute to vehicle safety. Tyres provide traction, the friction necessary for a vehicle to move, stop, and turn effectively. The tread pattern, a sophisticated network of grooves and sipes, is designed to channel water away from the contact patch, preventing hydroplaning and maintaining grip on wet surfaces.
On dry roads, the rubber compound of the tyre grips the asphalt, allowing for precise steering and efficient power transfer. Without adequate traction, a driver loses control, making even routine manoeuvres hazardous.
Braking performance is another critical safety aspect heavily reliant on tyres. When the brakes are applied, it is the tyres that transmit the braking force to the road surface, bringing the vehicle to a halt. Worn-out tyres with shallow tread depth significantly reduce braking efficiency, increasing stopping distances.
In an emergency, every foot counts, and the difference between a collision and a near miss can often be attributed to the condition of the tyres. Studies have consistently shown that vehicles with properly inflated and well-maintained tyres can stop several car lengths shorter than those with under-inflated or worn tires, a crucial advantage in preventing accidents.
Beyond braking, tyres play a pivotal role in vehicle handling and stability. They absorb road imperfections, providing a smoother ride and reducing driver fatigue, which indirectly contributes to safety. More directly, the sidewall construction and internal pressure of a tyre influence how a vehicle responds to steering inputs.
Properly inflated tyres maintain their intended shape, ensuring optimal contact with the road and predictable handling. Conversely, under-inflated tires can cause the vehicle to wander, feel “mushy” in turns, and even lead to a loss of control, particularly at higher speeds or during evasive manoeuvres.
Over-inflation, while less common, can lead to a smaller contact patch, reducing grip and potentially causing the tire to burst.
The dangers of tyre neglect are profound and often underestimated. One of the most common issues is incorrect tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres generate excessive heat, which can lead to tread separation and catastrophic blowouts. A blowout at highway speeds can cause a driver to lose control instantly, leading to severe accidents. Additionally, under-inflation leads to uneven wear, reducing the tire’s lifespan and compromising its structural integrity.
Over-inflation, while less likely to cause a blowout, can lead to a harsh ride, reduced traction, and accelerated wear in the center of the tread.
Worn-out tyres pose an equally significant threat. As tyres age like mine did and accumulate mileage, their tread depth diminishes. The minimum legal tread depth in many regions is 1.6mm (2/32nds of an inch), but performance, especially on wet surfaces, begins to degrade well before this point. Bald tyres, which are common on our roads, are highly susceptible to hydroplaning, where a layer of water separates the tyre from the road, causing a complete loss of traction. They also offer significantly reduced grip on dry surfaces, compromising braking and handling.
Furthermore, aging tyres can develop cracks in the sidewall and tread, making them vulnerable to punctures and blowouts, even if they appear to have sufficient tread depth.
Regular tyre maintenance is not just a recommendation; it is a safety imperative. This includes routine checks of tyre pressure, ideally once a month and before long journeys, using a reliable tire pressure gauge. It also involves inspecting the tires for signs of wear, such as shallow tread depth, uneven wear patterns, and any cuts, bulges, or cracks in the sidewalls.
Tyre rotation, typically
Every 5,000 to 7,500 miles helps ensure even wear across all four tires, extending their lifespan and maintaining balanced handling. Wheel alignment and balancing are also crucial. Misaligned wheels can cause rapid and uneven tire wear, affecting steering and stability, while unbalanced wheels can lead to vibrations, premature tire wear, and compromised handling.
In conclusion, tyres are far more than just rubber circles that get a vehicle from point A to point B. They are sophisticated safety components that are constantly working to maintain contact with the road, provide traction, facilitate braking, and ensure stable handling. Neglecting their condition or proper maintenance is akin to gambling with one’s safety and the safety of others on the road. Understanding the critical role tires play in vehicle dynamics and committing to regular inspections and maintenance are fundamental responsibilities for every driver, ultimately contributing to safer roads for everyone. The investment in good quality tires and their diligent upkeep is an investment in life itself.
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