Sigmavision’s tyre safety tips

By Categories: Commercial NewsPublished On: Tuesday 4 August 2015

sigmavision1Sue Pryce of tyre measurement specialist Sigmavision Ltd offers tyre safety advice for fleet operators

Multiple studies show the significance of poor tyre condition and low tread depth. The statistics are unsettling.

According to a 2014 study, one in four tyre-related traffic accidents occurs as a result of tyres with illegal tread depth. Meanwhile, a 2012 technical report on tyre safety by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported an 86 per cent reduction in the probability of an accident when tyres have adequate tread depth.

For HGV operators, basic checks to make sure tyres are well maintained, defect-free and correctly inflated can make all the difference. Every driver-controlled function such as steering, braking, or accelerating, and active safety systems, including ABS and traction control, are eventually transmitted by the tyres.

It is also worth noting that it is illegal to fit a tyre to an HGV if the base of any groove which was in the original tread pattern is not clearly visible.

The grooves of the tread pattern must have a depth of at least 1mm throughout a continuous band, measuring at least three-quarters of the breadth of the tread, and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre.

The same regulation applies to regrooved tyres. Tyre tread depth should be checked at least once a month or at every fleet inspection, using an accurate tread depth measurement device.

It is heartening to see that the profile of tyre safety is gradually increasing. Tyre safety campaign organisation TyreSafe is raising awareness among road haulage communities and commercial vehicle users (as well as passenger car owners) of the importance of driving on safe and correctly maintained tyres.

TyreSafe is a proactive organisation and this year’s Tyre Safety Month campaign will emphasise the importance of tyre maintenance. The campaign will take place in October following a launch at the TyreSafe Annual Briefing in July.

Our UK inspection and enforcement authorities are also working together to increase awareness of HGV tyre safety and sharing their findings on social media. This month, a joint operation between the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the CMPG (Central Motorway Police Group) was publicised on Twitter to reveal evidence of illegal HGV tyres on UK roads.

So what technology is available to improve tyre safety and tread depth measurement?

At the international Transport Logistic exhibition in Munich in May, Sigmavision Ltd unveiled the world’s first portable, handheld 3D tyre scanner to the show’s 50,000 visitors representing the international commercial vehicle market.

The device, sold under the brand name TreadReader, captures a 3D laser scan of the tyre and offers fleet operators and tyre service providers improved tyre measurement and management to ensure tyres reach their target lifetime. It also presents fuel-saving opportunities for the fleet operator and reduces the running costs of tyre maintenance contracts.

The advantages of TreadReader’s advanced 3D laser scanning technology over traditional tyre measurement methods are increased speed and accuracy. The measurement cycle time to measure all tread grooves on a truck tyre is approximately five seconds.

Advanced software analyses the 3D scans to ensure measurements are accurate and reliable, even when tyres are wet or dirty. The 3D scans may be stored on a smartphone or tablet and incorporated into vehicle management systems.

www.treadreader.com