The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has cautions consumers on the misuse of products to avoid unwarranted damages.
Speaking at a sensitization forum on how to avoid road accident by restraining from misuse of vehicle tyres in Lagos recently, the Director, Training and Research, Standards Organisations of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Justin Nickaf, said the agency was greatly concerned about the loss of lives in accidents arising from sudden tyre burst as a result of misuse of the product.
He said that the agency would intensify efforts towards enlightening Nigerians on the implications of misuse of these products even as it implemented measures that would assure the quality of ‘properly’ imported tyres.
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“We extend our condolences to the families of Hon. Minister of State for Labour, Hon James Ocholi and General who amongst other numerous Nigerians met their deaths from accidents involving burst tyres.
“We will intensify efforts towards enlightening Nigerians of the implications of misuse of these products even as it implements measures that will assure the quality of ‘properly’ imported tyres.
“There isn’t a doubt that a tyre blowout ranks the highest on any highway driver’s list of fears. With good reason, as a tyre burst could lead to a complete loss of car control. With SUVs & MUVs, there is the possibility of a fl ipover too. A blowout is dangerous no matter how good a driver you are or how safe your car is.
“The good news is, with tyre technology continually improving, blowouts are becoming an infrequent occurrence. Still, they do happen and it’s best that you know what to do if you suffer one.”
Enlightening users on how to handle tyre burst, Nickaf said they should start with maintaining a safe driving speed, stressing that the lower the speed, the higher the chance of survival.
He said the drivers should make sure their tyres are not more than four years old, adding that they should avoid over speeding than the tyre could bear. Ask your tyre supplier or refer handbook for the speed rating of your tyres.”
“Usually, tire failure comes from a combination of stress and heat. Low tire pressure in addition to an injury to the tire combined with high speed will result in tire burst, mainly because low tire pressure means the tire does not keep its shape and the excessive flexing while rotating causes lots of heat and deformation.
However, without knowing the exact pressure that causes blow out but usually overinfl ating tires by 10psi / 70 kPa is no big deal since the recommended pressure is often well below the maximum sidewall pressure, which is high and may make the ride unsmooth but will most likely not cause the tires to burst,” he said.
Meanwhile, SON has warned the tyre dealers against dealing in substandard tyres, which were normally imported into the country. The agency stated that any culpable dealer would be severely dealt with
