A vehicle can have the most sophisticated braking and stability systems, but no system can bypass one engineering reality: every braking and steering force passes through the tyres.
That is why I believe what happens on our production line matters not only to manufacturers like us but also to every motorist and fleet operator in South Africa.
As Transport Month draws to a close, I welcome the road-safety focus on driver behaviour, enforcement and infrastructure. The Road Traffic Management Corporation's (RTMC) 2025 State of Road Safety report explains why: 11,485 people died on our roads last year, and human factors consistently account for more than 87% of contributory factors in fatal crashes. The RTMC estimates the cost of crashes at R198.3 billion, about 2.78% of GDP.
Vehicle condition accounts for a smaller share, but I believe it deserves our attention. RTMC figures for the 2024/25 festive season show that vehicle-related factors contributed to 6.9% of all fatal crashes. Of those vehicle-related crashes, 65.7% were attributed to tyre bursts and 11.4% to faulty brakes. Tyre bursts therefore accounted for roughly 4.5% of all fatal crashes.
Many tyre failures begin in service due to under-inflation, overloading, damage or excessive wear. To me, that makes manufacturing quality and proper maintenance two halves of the same safety equation. For those of us who make tyres, our half starts long before the ignition turns.
Quality is built, not inspected in
A modern tyre is an engineered product. Material selection and preparation, the precision of component assembly, and curing and testing all shape how consistently it performs on the road. The margin for error is small: on a compact car, each contact patch is roughly the size of a postcard. In my experience, the strongest production systems pair efficiency with consistency: preventive maintenance, real-time monitoring, traceability, and early problem-solving that catch deviations before they become defects.
We value final inspection, but it cannot substitute for good decisions made throughout production. Often the most valuable moment on our line is when someone notices that something is slightly off and stops to fix it. I want quality to be part of how our plant operates, not a hurdle at the end of the line.
People make precision possible
Data and automation help us flag variations earlier, but I have learnt that excellence still rests on the judgement of those closest to the work. At our Brits plant, we call colleagues who work directly with our equipment "Equipment Owners". Someone who knows how a machine normally sounds, runs and performs is usually the first to notice when it changes, and we trust them to act on it. As a plant leader, my job is to invest in skills, keep communication open and make it easy to raise concerns. A dependable tyre is the outcome of many small decisions made correctly, day after day.
Reliability keeps freight moving
Road transport carried 85.6% of South Africa's freight payload in the first eight months of 2025, according to the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index, which draws on Statistics South Africa data. For our fleet customers, an unexpected tyre failure can disrupt deliveries, take vehicles out of service and increase operating costs. Consistent quality, together with correct selection and maintenance, supports predictable performance and a lower total cost of ownership.
One example from our own plant illustrates the point. Since 2022, we have produced Firestone FD833 and FS833 truck and bus radials, previously imported, at Brits. This localisation followed trials and design improvements for South African roads, including a more cut- and chip-resistant compound. It is a single case, not proof of a wider trend, but it shows what local capability can offer.
A shared undertaking
We manufacturers do not carry road safety alone, but we do carry part of it. Our tyres still depend on what happens after they leave the factory. South Africa's regulations already recognise this link: buses, minibuses and heavy goods vehicles may not exceed the speed limits set for their tyres under SABS 1550 or approved by the tyre manufacturer. SABS 1550 sets tyre load and speed ratings: how much weight a tyre can safely carry and how fast.
As festive travel approaches, I urge fleet managers and motorists to do three things before every long trip: check tyre pressures when tyres are cold, keep loads within the vehicle's and tyres' rated limits, and replace tyres showing cuts, bulges or worn tread. Safe roads, effective enforcement and responsible driving remain essential. I was encouraged that the RTMC's 2025 report notes closer collaboration between manufacturers and the state on vehicle recalls, a partnership our whole value chain should build on.
Safer mobility is a shared undertaking. Part of it begins in a place most motorists never see: our factory floor, where people, engineering and consistent standards help keep South Africa moving.