Riders urged to make a PACT and stay safe

BANK Holidays and the better summer weather are bearing down on us and one safety organisation wants to make a PACT with motorcycle riders.
Tyresafe wants riders to take up its campaign to make riding safer and bike performance better.
Of importance all year round, the fact is that it’s summer when riders are more likely to cut their machines loose and open up the throttle as the caution of winter subsides. For many riders, the motorbike has been stored away for the winter and is only just seeing the light of day.
This year, Good Friday falls on April 6, with Easter Monday on the 9th, followed by the May Bank Holiday on the 7th of that month.
And to help bikers make the most of their ride outs, TyreSafe has launched its PACT campaign, which stands for — Performance, Air, Condition and Tread. In essence, if riders make a PACT with their bike and ensure they check their tyres for air pressure, overall condition and tread depth then they will get better performance including improved handling, grip and fuel economy.
Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, explains: “If tyres are inflated to their optimum level then they will provide better fuel economy and also last longer. The other benefits include improved grip, performance, reliability and a more satisfying and safer ride.
“So it really does make sense to ‘bank’ on our PACT advice and make the most of this year’s spring biking season.”
To help riders get ready, many tyre retailer and bike dealers across the UK will be supporting the campaign by offering free tyre safety checks. TyreSafe has also added some dedicated motorcycle tyre safety advice to its website, www.tyresafe.org. Indeed, spring is a particularly important time for motorcycle tyre maintenance as many riders will be embarking on their first ride of the year after leaving their bikes in storage over winter.
TyreSafe advises riders to seek professional advice when checking their tyres but for those doing so themselves then it reiterates that particular attention should be paid to ensure that there are no cuts, cracks or bulges, and riders must ensure there is adequate tread depth to meet legal requirements. Motorcyclists should also ensure tyres are inflated to the correct pressures.
For safe spring riding, follow TyreSafe’s PACT advice:
P — Performance, including grip, handling and fuel economy will all be improved with correct tyre care.
A — Air Pressure is essential for maximum performance. Pressures should be checked at least once a week using an accurate pressure gauge.
C — Condition is critical to road safety. Inspect tyres for any cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded in the tread.
T — Tread depth is essential for safety on wet roads. Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1mm (for bikes over 50cc).
Further tyre safety advice for motorcycles including a free downloadable leaflet can be found at www.tyresafe.org.