Knowledge and Practices of Tyre Maintenance: Ado Ekiti Car Drivers as a Case Study

Abstract

Tyre performance strongly affects road safety. Failed tyres have resulted in accidents and its resultant human and material losses. The main purpose of this study was to examine the maintenance culture of car tyres by drivers in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. To achieve this, what understanding drivers had about tyre maintenance and how they practiced it was extracted. The study found, amidst others, that drivers generally lacked understanding about appropriate tyre pressure gauge and that most vehicles’ tyres were either over-inflated or under-inflated. It also found that most drivers used second hand tyres and that the lifespan of most tyres were below one year. The study recommends education on tyre safety as part of driver education.