▷ Most Lithuanians drive with unsuitable tyres

According to data from the non-life insurance company BTA, for less than three years, when unexpected cold weather arrives in Lithuania and bare ice appears, road accidents increase on average by 26% in October, and even double in November compared to other days of the mentioned months.

Most Lithuanians drive with unsuitable tyres

“To save money, motorists are tempted by offers from sellers of used tires, without even thinking that used tires imported from other countries are often already thrown away for disposal in those countries, as they are no longer suitable for use and pose a risk to road safety. However, this market is popular, so when deciding to buy used tires, it is especially important to pay attention not only to the tread pattern and depth, but also to the year of manufacture of the tire. This is a very important factor in ensuring road safety, and irresponsible purchasing can pay off for your health and that of others on the road,” said Ernest Marek Goliančik, deputy director of the claims regulation department.

According to the BTA specialist, motorists often pay attention to the state of tires only when faced with an emergency situation on the road, for example, when the car skids during sudden braking or becomes unstable on a rainy day. However, the trend remains that when it comes to changing tires for a given season, the regular motorist delays the replacement job by driving on old tires, thinking that nothing bad will happen in a matter of a few months.

Žygymantas Tubutis, director of the automotive service network “Kemi”, emphasized that tires lose their properties with each season, so it is recommended to change them at least every three seasons, without waiting for the tread depth to reach the required minimum limit of 3 mm. As meteorologists promise a cool and rainy autumn starting this week, we advise you not to delay in preparing your car for the cold season.

According to EM Goliančik, there is also a trend that does not change every year: regular motorists excuse themselves because they are busy and delay until the last minute, when weather conditions simply force motorists to go to the garage to change summer tires to winter ones. In such cases, automotive service centers receive an influx of drivers, huge queues form.

According to BTA, the average loss of a car in an accident is 2,000 litas. Based on data from 2011 and 2012, it can be observed that when sudden cold weather arrives, the number of emergencies can double in the months of October and November.

“At the moment you can choose from a wide variety of tire manufacturers

both well-known and unknown brands. Sometimes, when choosing according to specific tire sizes, the price difference between different manufacturers reaches several hundred lita. We want to emphasize that you cannot blindly rely on the price alone. If you choose cheap tires from an unknown manufacturer, you may have additional worries in the future. You should also think about the warranty provided for the tire. When choosing tires, you should also pay attention to the speed index and see if it meets the requirements of the car manufacturer However, we are pleased that over the past three years the attention and responsibility of motorists in choosing winter and summer tires has grown,” said Žygymantas Tubutis, director of the automotive service network.

With the onset of winter, road patrols will use special gauges to check the tread depth of car tires, special raids are planned. The Highway Code establishes that the tread depth of winter tires for cars must not be less than 3 millimetres. However, it should be noted that when measuring tire wear, not only the reduced tread depth is considered, but also the quality of the tire rubber itself, which over the years ages, hardens and loses its previous properties. The year of the tires can be calculated by yourself based on the tire serial number, which is written on the outside of the tire. The serial number is an alphanumeric code made up of 11 numbers and usually, but not always, preceded by the acronym DOT (Department of Transportation). The last 4 digits of the serial number represent the production date of the tire.

One of the latest important indicators for the consumer when choosing tires is the European Commission regulation which came into force last year. Requires all tires produced after June 2012 and sold in the European Union from November 2012 to be equipped with a special sticker or label to be displayed when the tires are sold.

BTA insurance specialists always pay attention to the condition of the tires when assessing the technical condition of the car. If it is established that the condition of the tires does not meet the requirements, recourse applies to the driver of the vehicle in the case of compulsory civil liability insurance of the driver in the event of an accident, Casco insurance – insurance payment may be refused.

Advice from specialists on how to properly prepare your car for the winter season:

It is advisable to immediately check the condition of your car’s tyres. It is very important to do this before the first snow appears, while traffic conditions allow you to enjoy a comfortable ride. After evaluating the condition of the tires it is necessary to make the appropriate decision to ensure safe travel throughout the winter season.

Make sure the car is in good technical condition. The brake pads are not worn, the brake fluid is at a sufficient level, the engine oil is changed on time and does not fail, the windshield washer fluid is changed in winter. Make sure your car lights are adjusted and meet the technical requirements.

If you don’t have a broom or ice scraper, get these.

Drive at a safe speed, correctly evaluate your driving skills and the technical capabilities of the car.

According to data from the Bank of Lithuania, in the first eight months of this year the premiums of the SE branch of the “BTA Insurance Company” in Lithuania grew by -16.9%. up to 126 million litas compared to the same period last year. The company occupies the second position in the non-life insurance market and currently occupies 14.3%. market. in the period January-August 2013 the non-life insurance company compensated the insured’s claims at the rate of 10.9%. more than last year in the corresponding period (58 million lita).

Further information:
Indrė Spečiūnaitė
Public relations consultant of the SE branch of “BTA Insurance Company” in Lithuania
Assault. +370 673 55 567
indre@repute.lt