New Shoes, for the car?

 Who doesn’t love a new pair of good quality shoes?

That feeling when you slip your feet inside them and admire them in the mirror cannot be beaten and you walk around with that “new shoe smile” all day!

Cars don’t have feelings, but they need new shoes too and you still get that warm glow looking a the lovely set of gleaming black tyres when you take it away from the garage, or after having it washed!

I am quite a rarity in our household as it is me that tends to organise the car maintenance, check the oil and tyres and fill up the water.  We do a lot of miles in our family car travelling to and from days out, some often in the middle of nowhere so car safety and maintenance is vital, but apparently I am a rarity.

Back in October Mumsnet did a survey in conjunction with Michelin on tyres and tyre safety.  The results are quite eye-opening when you think about how much we rely on our cars, especially when we are transporting our most precious cargo – the kids.  In my opinion tyres are the most important part of the car as they are the only thing connecting you to the road.

The survey revealed, there was still a discrepancy between genders with more men taking responsibility for tyres, but women are acknowledging that this shouldn’t be the case; – 97% agreed all drivers should take responsibility for their vehicle and its safety.

Safety and longevity emerged as the most important criteria to Mumsnetters when choosing tyres, but car handling and fuel saving were important too. Only 19% referred to the importance of tyre labelling, indicating that tyre labelling remains less understood than perhaps other labelling – for example the environmental ratings used on white goods (fridges, washing machines etc) – Michelin say – did you know that tyre labels include a rating for wet braking stopping distances?

Safety: Whilst safety is the key consideration , 38% didn’t know the legal tread depth, 67% were unaware of the penalty for having bald tyres (which is a min. 3 points per tyre, plus a fine in the UK) and 38% only checked their tyre pressures twice a year or less….

….interestingly many cited their car as having TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) and that this removed the need for regular tyre pressure checks. However, Michelin say that older, indirect TPMS systems (mainly fitted before 2012) may only alert the user to a sudden change in pressure (e.g. caused by a puncture). They do NOT necessarily indicate the gradual loss of air from tyres which reduces tyre performance leading to reduced fuel efficiency and braking capability.

Winter tyres: surprisingly, 66% would consider or be prepared to buy winter tyres in the future. 7% of Mumsnetters currently own winter tyres, which is above average when compared with the UK as a whole.

Premium Brands: 65% are prepared to pay the extra for a quality tyre brand which confirms that the majority of Mumsnetters recognise its worth paying for the inherent quality and safety performance associated with a recognised premium brand. Michelin say “not all tyres are the same…..”

Buying tyres: Only 6% purchased online, which may reflect a lack of knowledge in tyres, leaving purchasers more likely to be swayed by the tyre retailer’s recommendation. Investing the time in understanding how to read a tyre and using online tyre selector tools could help empower Mumsnetters to make their own choices. Mobile tyre fitment for home or office, bookable online, is also an option for greater convenience.

Michelin Total Performance brings together an optimum mix of performance areas such as grip, long-life and fuel saving without a trade-off. Michelin tyres are the best match for the daily driving challenges that Mumsnetters face.

I know we often see spending money on our cars as painful, but it is vital they are well maintained for everyones safety on the road!

Disclaimer:  I have not been paid for this post however have been entered into a competition to win a set of Michelin tyres for my car