United Kingdom – A couple of riders we know have posted up pictures on their social media pages, of their motorcycles’ rear tyre with a screw/bolt embedded in the tyre.
Both riders, one from the UK and one from France, replaced the rear tyre because of the position of the object.
As if by magic Tyresafe’s motorcycle campaign – Don’t Chance It Change It – supported by TT Legend John McGuiness, comes along.
“Don’t chance it, change it”, focuses on the message that it’s safer to change your tyre than repair it, a sentiment supported by McGuinness. “There’s absolutely no chance that I would repair a tyre. To be honest, it wouldn’t even enter my head. I didn’t even know that you can repair a bike tyre,” he said in a video made especially for TyreSafe’s campaign.
John Added, “I give loads of consideration to the tyres that my bikes are equipped with because it’s so, so important; it’s the only bit that connects you to the road.”
TyreSafe’s latest video features an interview with John McGuinness who talks honestly and openly about his view of tyre safety for motorbikes. The campaign message “Don’t chance it, change it” focuses on the concerns around motorcyclists assuming that bike tyres are like car tyres and can be repaired without a second thought.
To support the campaign, TyreSafe has produced a new quick guide to motorcycle tyre safety, as well as a refreshing its comprehensive A5 reference guide.
Motorcycle tyres are essential for keeping rider and pillion safe on the road, with a timely reminder that it is the rider (and not the owner) that is responsible for tyre condition.
Worryingly, in the Department for Transport’s Reported Road Casualties figures, motorcycles are three-times more likely to be involved in a tyre-related incident than a car.
With this in mind, motorcyclists are encouraged to check their tyres once a week and consider three key areas:
- Inflation pressure – which influences how your bike handles, brakes and accelerates; correct pressures reduce your risk of an incident on the road
- Condition – because tyres are in physical contact with the road and can be damaged by debris, potholes, and kerbs
- Tread – a tyre’s tread ensures a tyre stays in contact with the road during wet conditions. The minimum limit for motorcycles of 50cc or above is 1mm, while for those up-to 50cc it is visible tread across the centre three-quarters
Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe Chairman said: “With 1.1 million licensed motorcycles in England, the Don’t chance it, change it campaign will play an important role in reminding and educating motorcyclists that tyre safety should be at the forefront of their minds every time they set off. It’s of genuine concern to hear inappropriate repairs are being carried out despite the warnings.
“Hopefully, hearing those concerns aired by motorcycle legend John McGuinness will help get the message through.”
John McGuinness ended his message to motorcyclists by saying, “Check your tyres before you go out for a ride. There’s nothing wrong with having a look… you could have a foreign object in them, a screw, a big lump of glass, anything. You could be getting a slow puncture and it could take two or three days to go down, and you wouldn’t know, and you’d just jump on your bike and go… It’s a bit of common sense really, for your own safety: check them out!”
Original Source – TT legend John McGuinness supports TyreSafe’s Don’t chance it, change it motorcycle campaign
TyreSafe – www.tyresafe.org
Twitter – www.twitter.com/tyresafe @TyreSafe
Facebook – www.facebook.com/tyresafeuk
YouTube – www.youtube.com/user/TyreSafe
About TyreSafe
TyreSafe is the UK’s charity dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and illegal tyres (registration number 1168354). In 2009, TyreSafe was awarded with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in recognition of its achievements in raising awareness about the dangers associated with driving on defective and worn tyres.
TyreSafe supports the government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign which promotes Smarter Driving tips to help cut CO2 emissions from driving. TyreSafe is a signatory to the European Road Safety Charter which aims to reduce road fatalities. TyreSafe is a supporter of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety which aims to make roads safer and save lives.
Thanks for clearing that up on the cost.
However while certainly an aid in monitoring tyre pressure in real time when riding. As the campaign says check your tyres once a week – “John McGuinness ended his message to motorcyclists by saying, “Check your tyres before you go out for a ride. There’s nothing wrong with having a look… you could have a foreign object in them, a screw, a big lump of glass, anything. You could be getting a slow puncture and it could take two or three days to go down, and you wouldn’t know, and you’d just jump on your bike and go… It’s a bit of common sense really, for your own safety: check them out!”
Again its rider choice to plug or not to plug, from this conversation there is no right or wrong just recommendations and differing opinions.
Always keep the rubber side down.
One of the side benefits that came out of Ford’s early 2000’s Explorer’s sometimes fatal tendency to roll over, in the event that an under-inflated rear tyre overheated and blew out, was that the resulting US legislation, which mandated tyre pressure measurement systems (TPMS ), created such high demand for these systems that they are now “cheap as chips”.
In fact, significantly cheaper than a new rear tyre!
Well you take your options and take your chance…………… that’s what motorcycling in this aspect is all about – your choice your decision!
Also the campaign we don’t think has a conspiracy theory to promote tyre manufacturers and perhaps riders do not have the finance to fit tyre monitoring systems.
The two riders in the real world we mentioned where not willing to take the risk of plugging their tyres – one does track days the other about to complete a European tour.
So Dr Torquil Ross-Martin at autordlimited.com will you provide an excellent article as requested?
This “Don’t Chance it, Change it!” campaign is misleading to say the least.
Tyre Safe do not advise against using repaired motorcycle tyres. Their focus is really on the risks associated with poorly maintained and/or badly worn tyres.
Yep, if you are a contemplating a 120mph+ TT lap and have the resources required to compete, throw away your punctured tyres. Most top racer’s wouldn’t refit a part worn tyre at the TT, even if it had no puncture.
But for the rest of us, follow the proper advice – use a properly qualified repair service (who will follow the proper procedure and only carry out repairs on tyres which are structurally sound).
Of course, tyre manufacturers and retailers would rather have you throw them away. But to be clear, there is vast evidence that properly executed repairs are reliable, and to my knowledge, no forensic evidence that such repairs are the cause of any motorcycle accidents.
What? You know someone who swears their crash was caused by a puncture repair failing? How did they prove that that was the case? Sometimes its handy to blame the tyres….
My advice, if you are faced with the choice, repair the tyre and use the money you save to buy a tyre pressure measuring system (TPMS) – which will give you a real time display of your tyre pressure.
This will enable you too keep an eye on your tyre pressures when riding – and hence reduce the likelihood that you finish up driving on an underinflated thus potentially dangerous tyres – no matter what causes the pressure loss.
http://artsautomotive.com/publications/8-automotive/65-tires-plug-repair/ is an entertaining read.