MORE than one in eight US vehicles has bald tyres, according to survey by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), which represents tyre manufacturers in the US. Bald tyres cannot properly grip the road, can cause an increase in vehicle stopping distances and are more susceptible to hydroplaning.
More than 13% of American vehicles have at least one bald tyre, an increase from 10.4% recorded in a 2010 RMA survey. Further, a 2011 RMA survey of motorists found that 64% did not know how to check tyre tread depth and 9% or respondents said they never check tyre tread depth. RMA recommends the “penny test” to check tyre tread depth.(RJA)