Tyre Checks and Driving Safety on Long Journeys — 8 Practical Steps
Setting off on a long journey is an exciting start, but it also requires a careful preparation process. Making sure the car is in good condition — particularly the state of the tyres — forms the basis of a safe trip. It is a known fact that tyre-related faults play a direct or indirect role in a significant proportion of traffic accidents. Whether you are setting off in your own car or have collected a rental car through the option to rent a car, the eight practical checks you carry out before setting off form the most important steps in making your trip safe.
Tyre Health Is the Basic Condition of the Journey
Tyres are the only point of contact between the car and the road. A car’s braking distance, cornering performance, grip in wet weather and overall driving safety depend largely on the condition of the tyres. Whatever the manufacturer, the tyre design or the road conditions may be, no safety technology in a modern car gives an adequate result if the tyres are poorly maintained.
Checking the condition of the tyres when collecting a rental car is also the customer’s responsibility. A simple visual check during the handover process prevents unexpected situations that might be encountered in the middle of the road. When you decide to rent a car, going over all four tyres side by side before collecting the vehicle is a step that takes a minute but carries great value, both for you and for the journey ahead.
1. Check the Tyre Tread Depth
Tyre tread depth directly determines a tyre’s capacity to clear water from between itself and the road. Insufficient tread depth increases the risk of aquaplaning in wet weather and lengthens the braking distance.
The legal minimum tread depth in Türkiye is 1.6 millimetres. However, when setting off on a long journey, the ideal value for summer tyres is 3 millimetres and above, and for winter tyres 4 millimetres and above. The most practical way to check tread depth is to place a coin in the tyre groove; if half of the coin is visible, the tread depth is probably not sufficient.
When collecting a rental car, check the TWI (Tread Wear Indicator) markings placed on the side surfaces of the tyres. These markings show the minimum tread depth at the base level of the groove.
2. Check the Tyre Pressures
The correct pressure extends tyre life and lowers fuel consumption. Low pressure causes the tyre surface to contact the ground over a wider area; this increases fuel consumption and speeds up tyre wear. High pressure, on the other hand, wears the centre of the tyre excessively and reduces road grip.
Each car’s recommended tyre pressure is written on a label located on the inner surface of the passenger door or behind the fuel cap. Before setting off on a long journey, all four tyres should be measured while cold. The tyre pressure of a car that has been moving for 10 minutes appears somewhat high due to temperature and gives a misleading result.
In the car rental process, you can assume that this pressure has been checked when you collect the rental car; however, if you are setting off on a long journey, it is useful to carry out a manual check at a fuel station at the start of the route. At most stations, a pressure gauge is freely available for use.
3. Inspect the Tyre Surface and Sidewalls Visually
Beyond tread depth and pressure, the visual condition of the tyres is also important. Check whether there are any cracks, bubbles, nail marks, bulging areas or uneven wear on the tyre surface.
Bubbles on the sidewall indicate that the cord structure inside the tyre has been damaged and can cause a blowout at high speed. Uneven wear generally indicates that the car’s wheel balance or tracking is out.
When collecting a rental car, it is important to have the results of this visual check recorded on the vehicle handover form. This prevents possible disputes when the car is returned and protects you. The handover form of a rental car contract is a legal document that records the car’s condition at that moment.
4. Check the Spare Tyre and Spare Wheel Equipment
A significant proportion of modern cars have a repair kit (sealant and compressor) instead of a spare wheel. Before setting off, check that the spare wheel or repair kit is in place and in usable condition.
If there is a spare wheel, its pressure should also be measured. A spare wheel that has not been used for months loses pressure and may prove insufficient when needed. The wheel brace and jack for the spare wheel should also be in place in the car.
When collecting a rental car, opening the boot area and checking that the spare wheel, the jack, the wheel brace and the repair kit are present is a one-minute step. Customers who carry out this check at the handover stage of the car rental process both safeguard their own journey and make sure the car is not handed over incomplete.
5. Check the Age of the Tyres
Even if the tread depth is sufficient, the age of the tyre is important. Tyres structurally enter a natural ageing process between 5 and 7 years. The rubber structure hardens, flexibility is lost and road-grip properties decline.
Tyre age is tracked via the DOT code on the sidewall. Consisting of four digits, this code shows the week and year of the tyre’s manufacture. For example, the figure “3221” means that it was manufactured in the 32nd week of 2021.
When collecting a rental car, the visual condition of the tyres is a practical way of estimating their age. In general, since the tyres on fleet cars are renewed regularly, the likelihood of encountering such problems is low; even so, taking a quick look is a fast step.
6. Review the Car’s Other Fluid Levels and the Brake System
In addition to the tyres, other critical systems should also be checked before setting off. The levels of engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze and windscreen washer fluid are standard check items.
The brake system is a critical component, particularly on long journeys. When you start the car, the firmness of the brake pedal, any noise during braking and the direction in which the car pulls should be checked. The car pulling to the left or right during sudden braking is a sign of a balance or brake pad problem.
When collecting a rental car, you can assume that the service maintenance of these systems has been carried out; however, if you notice a change or noise in the brake pedal on the road, the right approach is to call the rental company immediately and request support. Most companies offer a 24/7 roadside assistance service.
7. Test the Headlight, Indicator and Windscreen Wiper Systems
On a long journey, the field of vision is the basis of safety. Before setting off, the main beam, dipped beam, fog lights, indicator lamps and brake lights should be tested one by one. A fault in any of these both creates a legal problem and gives rise to dangerous situations.
Windscreen wipers directly affect visibility in wet weather. Whether the wiper blades are cracked or hardened and whether the washer fluid is at a sufficient level should be checked. The life of windscreen wiper blades is generally between 6 and 12 months.
These systems are among the foremost items to be checked when collecting a rental car, because if any deficiency is not documented at the handover stage, it may later be reflected back to the customer as a problem.
8. Prepare the Travel Bag and Emergency Equipment
The final step is to prepare the emergency bag before setting off. This bag should be part of every long journey.
Among the basic items that should be in the bag are a reflective vest, a warning triangle, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a torch, a spare bulb set, a tow rope and a wheel chock. In Türkiye, the great majority of these are equipment that it is legally compulsory to keep in the car.
When collecting a rental car, opening the boot area and checking that all of this equipment is in place is an important habit. The presence of this equipment is stated in most rental car contracts; receiving it in a confirmed manner at handover is the customer’s responsibility.
In addition to these, for your own personal preparation, a charged phone, a spare power bank, drinking water, snacks, a raincoat and a blanket are small details that can be lifesavers on a long journey.
Additional Notes for Driving Safety on Long Journeys
Alongside tyre and vehicle checks, the driver’s own condition also determines the safety of the journey. Tired or sleep-deprived driving is one of the greatest safety risks. Getting enough sleep before setting off on a long journey, taking short breaks every 2 hours on the road and avoiding alcohol on long distances are basic rules.
Driving below the speed limit in bad weather conditions, doubling the following distance and keeping the headlights on in fog are practical measures that increase safety. In Türkiye, since sudden changes in weather are common particularly on the Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia routes, these measures are of critical importance.
In the car rental process, when collecting a rental car, make sure that the vehicle has modern safety technologies such as traction control (TCS), ABS and the electronic stability programme (ESP). These systems are among the standard equipment of modern cars and make a difference on long journeys.
A Practical Conclusion for a Safe Journey
Setting off on a long journey is an adventure; however, an unprepared start undermines both comfort and safety. The eight steps we have described form the basic checklist to be carried out before setting off. Tyre tread depth and pressure, visual inspection, spare wheel check, tyre age, other fluid levels, lighting test and emergency equipment — when all of these eight steps come together, they form the foundations of a safe long journey.
If you are setting off in your own car, you can carry out these checks yourself or have them done at a car service. If you have collected a rental car through the option to rent a car, carrying out the same checks quickly during the handover is valuable, both for your safety and for preventing possible disputes during the return process.
Europcar Türkiye, with its automatic and manual transmission alternatives and its SUV and sedan segments, makes it easier for you to find the right car for every route you set off on.