WITH the rainy season under way and a higher risk of more road collisions, Nicholas McKoy, general manager of Chad-Ad Distributors Ltd, local suppliers of Maxxis tyres, is urging motorists to prioritise the health of their wheels.

He is advising that drivers decide against putting newer tyres on the front end, and instead putting them on the rear for better traction.

“It is actually recommended that you put the new tyres on the rear, because you want to have the best traction. The front tyres go through so much more than back tyres; they rub when you turn a curb, carry the weight of engine and so on, and wears off faster. It is best to put the newer tyres on the back to essentially secure the vehicle if you have to draw your breaks suddenly,” he told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

McKoy, who has been in the industry for 19 years, noted that the tyres are one of the most critical components of a vehicle.

“A tyre is one of the most important components on a vehicle. Your entire safety depends on the integrity of the tyre, and it is the duty of the operator to ensure that they’re always in the best shape,” he said.

The expert further spoke to the critical nature of motorists checking their air tyre pressure.

“I find that people don’t pay attention enough to maintenance of tyres, so the side walls of the tyres fail prematurely. It’s like not having good blood pressure,” he said.

“As it relates to the air pressure, the manufacturers of vehicles usually put a placard in the doorjamb of a vehicle with the recommended amount of air for the tyres. So it’s best to go by that guideline,” McKoy added.

In many instances, motor vehicle operators tend to check their air pressures independently based on face value. McKoy is advising against this, noting that sometimes tyres are deteriorating, but not obvious to the naked eye.

“A lot of people who switch out to bigger rims, and those people really have to check every week. Because the side walls are already so narrow, and now you have these big rims on the vehicle, so don’t try to eyeball whether they look good, or not,” he said.

He is further urging all drivers to check their tyres at least once a month.

“A regular passenger vehicle should be checked at least once a month. When you stop and contract you lose a little bit o air each time. The good thing is that many of these new-age vehicles have pressure monitoring systems which will alert them about when they need air,” McKoy continued.

Started in 1997, Chad-Ad Distributors Limited has an outlet at Newport West and another on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston.