The Hidden Dangers from Bumping Up and Scuffing Kerbs

posted on 15 May 2008

TyreSafe, the non-profit tyre safety organisation has issued a warning to motorists in light of a recent increase in the number of premature tyre removals as a result of either kerbing damage or uneven tread wear due to wheel or axle misalignment.

Motorists mounting or hitting a kerb usually occurs during a parking manoeuvre. As most modern cars are now equipped with power steering, drivers consider that the presence of a kerb is not an obstacle to manoeuvring a car into a tight spot, which may lead to a tyre’s sidewall being pinched between the kerb and the wheel, or the steering system becoming misaligned.

Drivers are often unaware of any problem associated with such a manoeuvre until either the tread pattern shows rapid and irregular wear or a bulge appears on the tyre sidewall which increases the likelihood of an accident. The level of grip of an unevenly worn tyre is unpredictable in the wet, whilst a sidewall bulge, the result of a fracture in the carcass of the tyre, can cause a tyre to either lose pressure or in a worst case scenario a tyre blow-out.

Whilst it should be common practice for motorists, TyreSafe recommends that tyres should be maintained at the levels of pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The association also points out that drivers who are aware of having impacted a kerb with some force should have the tyre(s) inspected for any damage and the vehicle alignment checked by a tyre dealer. Tyre sidewall damage cannot be repaired and may lead to possible failure because of the leaking of air from the tyre.

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