For more road safety: Free tire checks at German car washes
Bonn, September 17, 2020 (DVR) – With the Wash & Check campaign, the initiative clarifies tire quality – “I’m playing it safe!” of the German Road Safety Council and its partners this year from September 18.9th. to September 26.9.2020, 300, drivers across the country will be informed about the importance of tires for road safety at over XNUMX car washes. At the car washes, drivers can receive relevant information and expert tips on the subject of tire safety, and at many locations they can also get a free tire check. If there is no action location nearby, the tire check can also be carried out digitally for the first time this year.
5 points for more road safety
The campaign makes motorists aware of the relevance of tires, their product quality and maintenance. Because
A regular tire check is actually child's play: The most important safety criteria can be set in just five steps
being checked.
- First, the Checked tire pressure and adjusted according to the manufacturer's specifications. "This also applies to vehicles that are equipped with a TPMS," explains Christian Wolf from ARCD Auto- und Reiseclub Deutschland eV Because the tire pressure monitoring system is a technical aid, but does not replace the regular manual tire checks by the driver.
- To be safe on the road, should Summer tires and winter tires have sufficient tread depth have and should be exchanged before reaching the legal limit. "The legal minimum tread depth is 1,6 millimeters - but we know from tests and investigations that the performance of the tires in wet conditions is significantly worse as the tread depth decreases," explains Sandra Bretthauer, Head of Events, PR and Tuning at Continental's tire replacement business D Reifen Deutschland GmbH.
- In third place is the general one Visual check of the tires: Is there curb damage or is a driven nail visible? “If you are unsure whether visible damage represents a safety defect, take a quick visit to the expert,” recommends Hans-Georg Marmit, press spokesman for the motor vehicle monitoring organization freelance Kfz-Sachversichter e. V. (KÜS), “This can be the tire dealer or the car repair shop you trust, or even a testing center nearby.”
- In addition, the tire check should Tire age checked become: If tires are more than 10 years old, the rubber is often no longer in the desired condition. Even then, it's best to go straight to an expert.
- Last but not least, the Pay attention to the valve caps. These should be in place so that dirt does not get into the valve and possibly damage it. By the way: If the vehicle has five tires (spare wheel), the tire check should always be carried out on five tires.
Tire safety is often neglected.
The results of last year's Wash & Check campaign show that there is still some catching up to do in terms of tire condition and safety awareness. A total of 1.284 vehicles were tested last year: 46 percent of the vehicles found that at least one tire posed a safety risk. Despite the increasing
Spread of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), the deviating tire pressure was particularly noticeable. In 14 percent of the tires tested, the tire pressure did not meet the manufacturer's specifications.
Free tire check: make a note now
If you want to be on the safe side, you should drive by one of the expert locations on one of the two campaign weekends (September 18/19.09 or September 25/26.09): Because there the tires can be subjected to a professional tire check on request and a tire expert is available to answer any questions Assessments ready. The Tire Quality Initiative - “I'm on the safe side!” Of the German Road Safety Council (DVR) and its partners offers this service free of charge to all car drivers. The best: The time required is minimal. The check only takes a few minutes and drivers receive the evaluation for their vehicle immediately afterwards. The campaign locations can be viewed at https://reifenqualitaet.de/wash-check-2020/. If there is no expert location nearby, the Tire Quality Initiative - "I'm playing it safe!"
Digital tire check
For the first time this year, drivers can also use the digital tire check on reifenqualitaet.de: Drivers are guided through the tire check step by step and can enter the respective measured values into the system. The evaluation follows immediately afterwards and thus an initial assessment of the condition of the tires in the vehicle.
Competition
As part of the campaign, drivers also have the chance to win a set of Continental tires, an annual membership in the ARCD or two driver tickets for the legendary kart track in Kerpen on November 26.11.2020th, 11.10.2020 from the motor vehicle inspection organization of freelance motor vehicle experts (KÜS). Whoever wants to take part only has to indicate which five points should always be checked during a tire check. The competition ends on October XNUMXth, XNUMX. To the competition: www.reifenqualitaet.de
About Wash & Check
From year to year more and more car washes and petrol stations with car washes take part in this campaign. It is supported by the partners ARCD Auto- und Reiseclub Deutschland eV, the Federal Association of Petrol Stations and Commercial Car Wash Germany e. V. (BTG - Minden), Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH and the
Motor vehicle monitoring organization freelance motor vehicle experts e. V. (KÜS).
About tire quality – “I drive on the safe side!”
The focus of the tire quality initiative of the DVR and its partners is the quality of the tires and professional advice in retail. The product quality has an impact on the braking distance and wet grip. But the condition of the tires, including the safety tread depth and tire pressure, is also relevant to safety. Further information on the subject is available at: www.reifenqualitaet.de
Contact
German Road Safety Council
Beatrice Frenzel
Head of Public Relations
Initiatives / events
Phone: +49 (0) 30 2266771- 36
Fax: +49 (0) 30 2266771-29
bfrensel@dvr.de
presse@reifenqualitaet.de