Auckland, 5 July 2017. On wet, cold roads, making sure your tyres are ‘fit to travel’, your lights and indicators are working properly and your windscreen wipers are clean can be a life saver.

A recent survey from research and comparisons site Canstar Blue has revealed that 17% of people admitted to not checking their tyres while a further 38% didn’t check their lights.

Canstar Blue’s Emma Quantrill comments:

“It can be easy to forget, or put off, conducting regular checks on our vehicles but ultimately it’s an essential part of keeping ourselves safe on the roads. We spend a huge amount of time in our cars so even if your vehicle is relatively new, you will still need to check the tread and pressure of your tyres at the very least.

What’s the minimum tread for tyres?

Worryingly, when Canstar Blue asked 2,316 drivers this question, 63% of people said they didn’t know for sure. Even more worryingly, of those who said they did know, 15% got it wrong.

The correct minimum tread for tyres in New Zealand is 1.5mm.

As well as tread, tyre pressure is also important as not only does it contribute to the safety of a vehicle, it can help with fuel economy too. Quantrill continues:

“The importance of having the correct tyre pressure is well document yet nearly 60% of the people we spoke to said they didn’t carry our regular checks. It’s quick and easy to do but if you’re not sure how to do it, hop online and watch a short tutorial. To find out the correct pressure for your tyres, look for a sticker or plate on the edge of the driver’s door, fuel flap or in your manufacturers handbook. Old car or new, your tyres need to be looked after.”

Which new car brand has the most satisfied customers?

Manufacturer of the top selling Swift, Suzuki was awarded the maximum five stars in four out of five categories as well as taking top spot for Overall Customer Satisfaction.

Receiving the award on behalf of Suzuki, General Manager - Marketing, Gary Collins said:

"Suzuki New Zealand is delighted to have once again taken the top spot in the Canstar Blue Customer Satisfaction Award for the automotive sector. Our range of models are not only fun but offer great reliability and fuel efficiency. Combined with an experienced, well established dealer network with well trained personnel allows us to offer a high level of customer service. We all work hard within the Suzuki team so it is great to be recognised for the effort that all our staff and our dealers put in to look after our customers."

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