Burton and South Derbyshire College students get to grips with tyre safety at Pirelli

Automotive students from Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) recently joined the team at the Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) for a detailed look at tyre safety. The special event for the level three motor vehicle students from the college was all part of celebrating Tyre Safety Month, which is an annual campaign, championed by UK charity, TyreSafe.

Centre Manager, Gareth Williams and his team welcomed the group to Pirelli’s state-of-the-art Performance Centre in Burton, located on Battista Road adjacent to Pirelli’s UK headquarters. The students were provided with a detailed insight into the equipment the centre uses to check and replace tyres, and learned more about the importance of effective tyre maintenance.

The 2019 Tyre Safety Month strapline was ‘Look Who’s Talking’ with the simple message to drivers of ‘don’t ignore your tyres’. It covers the three key areas of routine tyre maintenance: pressure, condition and tread depth, encouraging drivers to check their tyres at least once a month, and also before long journeys.

A recent TyreSafe survey revealed that as many as one-in-three young drivers have never checked their tyres, so this event and TyreSafe’s campaigns are crucial to spreading the message about properly maintaining tyres.

James Davies, Motor Vehicle Course Leader at BSDC said: “We had a great time at the Pirelli Performance Centre, learning about new technology in the field of tyre manufacture and safety, and the students gained some very useful information which will benefit them not only as trainee technicians, but also as young drivers.”

Peter Brochocki, Team Leader for Motor Vehicle at BSDC added: “It’s vitally important for our students to get practical Automotive experience as part of their course. Our partnership with Pirelli Tyres Ltd on this Tyre Safety Month project provided excellent motivation for learners to work hard in the automotive sector. This partnership will enhance the learning experience for our Automotive students and will give them the opportunity to hone their skills in the College’s workshop for their future careers.”

Gareth Williams said: “Tyre Safety Month is always an important event in our calendar. It has been a pleasure hosting all the groups during this period and showcasing our high technical levels and commitment to service at our centre.”