Sustained motorway speed and the heat it builds are exactly what expose a weak tyre, so a five-minute check before you set off prevents most long-distance breakdowns. Look at tread, pressures and condition while you're still on the drive, where any problem is a quick fix rather than a hard-shoulder emergency. Here's the checklist worth running.
Why motorways test tyres
A long motorway run combines high speed, sustained load and heat, hour after hour. A tyre that's marginal, under-inflated, worn or carrying hidden damage, is far more likely to fail under those conditions than on short local trips, see blowout causes. That's why pre-journey checks matter most before exactly this kind of drive.
The pre-journey checklist
- Tread: the 20p test on all four tyres, including inner edges.
- Pressure: set cold to the right figure, see tyre pressure.
- Condition: look all round for cracks, bulges and embedded objects.
- Spare: check the spare or repair kit is ready.
Pressures for a loaded car
A long journey often means a full car. A loaded car needs the higher laden pressure on your door placard, or the tyres run effectively under-inflated, which builds heat exactly when they're working hardest. Setting the laden figure before a fully packed motorway trip is one of the most effective things you can do to prevent a blowout.
On the journey
Take a break roughly every two hours. It keeps you alert and lets the tyres cool, and it's a chance to glance at them at the services. If a tyre looks low or the car feels different, stop and check rather than pressing on. If anything does go wrong, follow motorway breakdown safety.
Set off on good tyres
If your check finds a worn or damaged tyre, we'll replace it at home before you go, across the UK. Book a pre-journey check.
