With the Easter Bank Holiday over
It is time to turn our thoughts to the summer term
Though we home educate
We are still governed by school terms
For many of our classes
This term is very short here in Kent
And we have a lot to pack in
Alongside classes and lessons and social meets
We also have my parents visiting from Spain
Tilda’s seventh birthday in the sky
Edie’s birthday
And a very special family wedding
All of this means a lot of time in the car
We live in a small village in rural Kent
Nothing happens here
There are no amenities here
Absolutely everything is a drive away
And while I am so very grateful
For the lighter evenings this season brings
I am aware that our little local roads are getting busier
Many are in a state of poor repair
And many roads around us are closed
As housing developments pop up all over the place
Or lanes are peppered with pot holes
And plagued with vehicles far too big and wide
To be negotiating our country roads
I am not a confident driver
But because of the lifestyle we have chosen
And the location of our home
I have to drive every day
To ease my anxiety
I like my car to be in good condition
I do not care how it looks especially
But it has to be reliable
And it has to be safe
In our area
With the many holes in the road
Good safe tyres are a must have
As I am not a car expert
By any stretch of the imagination
I rely on the expertise and skills of others
To keep me on the road
But I still like to know
What is required by law
And what is considered safe
When it comes to the tyres on my car
I have also been reading about how to get the most out of my tyres
To keep our family car on the road
So what should I know about tyres
To be legal and safe?
I found some really useful information
Published by The RAC
They say the secret to keeping your vehicle’s rubber in tip top condition is regular inspections
If you notice anything unusual you can seek a professional opinion on what to do
Visual inspections are where to start
Look at the surface of the tyre
Run your hand over the tread
To check for any foreign bodies embedded in the rubber
If you do detect anything in the tread and you’re unsure what to do
You can also measure the depth of your tyre tread using a coin
The first thing is to check the tyre pressures
If these are within manufacturer tolerance, drive slowly and carefully
To a professional tyre outlet to seek their help
If not, it might be worth jacking the car up
Properly supporting the vehicle and taking the wheel in question off
You can then take this to a garage and get it repaired or replaced if necessary
Monitoring tyre pressures is important, too
Manufacturers quote pressures for a reason
Air pressure inside the tyre inflates the carcass
It pushes the tread blocks out away from the centre
Too little pressure and these tread blocks close over
They won’t displace water effectively
It also decreases efficiency
Pressure and tread
For legality and safety
On the road
(Information from https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/tyres/tyre-safety/
If you live close to London
You can get your tyres from Iverson Tyres
And benefit from their knowledge and expertise
To keep you and yours on the road this term
One more drive along the world we go!
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