Drivers warned to avoid three parking spots in the heat that could spell disaster for tyres

EXPERTS have issued a warning to drivers to avoid three particular parking spots in the heat to avoid disaster.

As temperatures continue to soar, advise has been issued to help motorists protect their car’s tyres.

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Experts have warned that parking in certain positions in the warm weather can lead to your tyres wearing out, or even bursting.

Here are the parking tips you need to know this summer, according to car insurance experts from MoneySupermarket.

Make sure your wheels are straight

The first piece of advise issued is to ensure you have straightened up your tyres properly when parking.

Often, when manoeuvring, drivers will leave the car parked with the tyres left at an angle.

When they are left in this position for an extended period of time, it can put an undue stress on the sidewalls.

This can cause even more damage in the heat, experts warn.

In fact, the strain can even lead to the rubber cracking in severe cases.

It is advised, that you try and straighten your vehicle’s wheels as best you can when parking, or at least try and avoid leaving them in that position for any extended period of time.

Avoid parking on the kerb

Experts have also encouraged drivers to refrain from parking on the curb or other raised surfaces.

This can cause the tyres on one side of your car to wear out more quickly than the other.

In addition to the manoeuvre being illegal in certain situations, it also unevenly distributes the weight of the car across the four tyres.

The tyres on the ground will compress at a much quicker than the raised ones.

This will result in a higher likelihood of premature wear.

Also, this compression will only be made worse by the extreme heat.

Not only that, but it’s also illegal in parts of the UK, namely London and Scotland – read more about the rules about parking on the kerb here.

Avoid metal and tarmac surfaces

We all know how hot some surfaces can get in the summer, in fact, experts have warned that metal grates and tarmac can hit temperatures of 50 degrees or higher in the warmer months.

It is therefore advised that drivers avoid parking on these blisteringly hot surfaces where possible.

When tyres come into contact with them, it can lead them to rapidly expand and even explode.

This is due to the increased radiation from these surfaces.

MoneySuperMarket car insurance expert Alicia Hempsted says: “Insurance policies won’t cover tyre blowouts caused by wear or neglect, so it’s essential to know what your policy includes, and take action to help avoid damage when parking your vehicle during hot weather.”

Experts have urged motorists to regularly monitor their tyres due to minor issues being more likely to cause a problem in the severe heat.

This can lead them to abruptly burst.

They also advise that if you wish to check your tyre pressure, you do so when they are as cool as possible, due to the heat making the pressure increase.

Ms Hempsted added: “Due to our unique and changeable climate here, a lot of advice online can sometimes be irrelevant for UK motorists.

“For example, some online communities recommend releasing tyre pressure after heat-related expansion; a practice that contradicts UK standard safety instructions, which is to only adjust pressure when tyres are cold.

“UK drivers need to be aware of only following online advice that adheres to this country‘s safety standards.”