Tyres and trackers: Your pre-departure guide

There is more to getting road-trip ready than filling up the tank, packing the padkos and choosing the playlist.

Before a long-distance drive, take a few minutes to check two things that can make a big difference if something goes wrong: your tyres and your vehicle tracking device.

Correct tyre pressure, healthy tread and a working tracker can help make your journey safer. They may also matter when it comes to meeting the requirements of your car insurance policy, particularly where a tracking device is specified as a condition of cover.

South Africa's roads remain challenging. Preliminary Department of Transport figures recorded 1,427 road deaths from 1,172 crashes during the 2025/26 festive season, despite both figures falling by about 5% from the previous festive period.

A few checks before departure are therefore well worth the time.

Before leaving, check:

• tyre pressure and tread
• cuts, cracks or bulges
• uneven tyre wear
• your spare tyre and wheel-changing equipment
• whether your tracking device is active and working
• whether the tracker meets your insurer's requirements
• your policy benefits and roadside-assistance details
• any additional requirements if you are travelling outside South Africa.

Give yourself enough time to fix a problem before your departure date rather than discovering it when the car is already packed.

Your tyres are your car's contact with the road, so they deserve more than a quick glance before a long journey.

Check the tyre tread

Inspect the tread across the full width of each tyre and look for excessive or uneven wear.

Current Road Traffic Management Corporation guidance recommends tread depth of at least 1.6mm and notes that tyre grip starts reducing below 3mm.

If you are uncertain about the condition of your tyres, have them inspected by a tyre professional before travelling.

Check your tyre pressure while the tyres are cold

Use the pressure recommended for your particular vehicle and load. You can normally find this information in the owner's manual or on the vehicle's tyre-pressure placard.

Remember that a fully loaded holiday car may require different pressures from the ones you use for your everyday commute.

Incorrect pressure can affect tyre wear, handling and fuel consumption. Competitor tyre-safety guidance also consistently recommends checking pressure before long-distance journeys rather than waiting until you are already on the road.

Look for cuts, cracks and bulges

Walk around the vehicle and check the sidewalls and visible tread for:

• cuts
• cracks
• embedded objects
• unusual bulges
• signs of damage
• excessive or uneven wear.

If something looks wrong, don't leave it until after the holiday.

Don't forget your spare tyre

A spare wheel doesn't help much if it has been sitting in the boot underinflated for months.

Check its condition and pressure and make sure you have the jack, wheel spanner and any locking-wheel-nut key needed for your vehicle.

Uneven wear may indicate an alignment, balancing, suspension or tyre-pressure issue.

Rather than treating it as purely cosmetic wear, get the vehicle checked before travelling. Long-distance driving places sustained demands on the tyres, especially when the vehicle is carrying additional passengers and luggage.

Your tyres aren't the only thing worth checking before departure.

If your car insurance requires a tracking device, confirm that it is installed, active and working as required by your policy.

MiWay's more recent tracker guidance recommends checking whether the device is active, transmitting correctly, supported by the tracking provider and configured as required.

Before leaving, ask yourself:

• Is the tracker subscription active?
• Is the device communicating correctly?
• Does the provider's app or service show the vehicle correctly?
• Have you responded to any battery, power or device-health warnings?
• Does your tracker still meet the requirements stated in your insurance policy?

If you aren't sure, contact your tracking provider or MiWay before travelling.

Not every vehicle or policy has the same requirements.

Depending on the vehicle and its risk profile, an insurer may require a specific type of tracking or recovery device. The important point is to follow the requirements stated in your own policy documentation rather than assuming that any GPS tracker will be sufficient.

Tracking providers themselves distinguish between standard GPS tracking and devices designed to meet insurance and stolen-vehicle-recovery requirements.

If your MiWay policy specifies a tracker, make sure you understand exactly what is required before your trip.

Planning a road trip into Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho or another neighbouring country?

Don't assume that your tracker, recovery service, roadside assistance or insurance operates in exactly the same way outside South Africa.

Before leaving:

• tell your insurer where necessary
• confirm your territorial cover
• check whether your tracking provider operates at your destination
• understand what assistance is available outside South Africa
• keep the relevant emergency contact details with you.

Your policy wording and tracking-provider terms should always be the final reference.

A worn tyre or inactive tracking device does not automatically mean every claim will be rejected.

Insurance claims are assessed according to the circumstances of the incident and the terms and conditions of the policy.

However, where your policy contains a specific requirement,  such as maintaining a required tracking device, failing to meet that requirement could affect cover.

The safest approach is simple: understand your policy conditions and deal with tyre or tracker problems before you leave

Even a well-maintained vehicle can develop a flat tyre, flat battery or another unexpected problem.

MiWay's current car insurance information states that qualifying comprehensive cover includes 24/7 roadside emergency assistance for situations such as flat tyres, flat batteries, running out of fuel, towing, locksmith assistance and safe storage, subject to the applicable policy terms.

Save your emergency-assistance details on your phone before leaving rather than trying to find them on the side of the road.

Before pulling out of the driveway:

• Check all four tyres and the spare
• Check tyre pressure against your vehicle specification
• Inspect tread and tyre condition
• Investigate uneven wear
• Confirm your wheel-changing equipment is present
• Check that your tracker is active and working
• Confirm that it meets your car insurance requirements
• Check cross-border cover if travelling outside South Africa
• Save MiWay and tracking-provider emergency details
• Review your policy benefits before departure

Ten minutes spent checking now could save considerably more time once you're on the road.

Tyres and trackers may not be the most exciting part of planning a getaway, but getting them right can make the journey considerably easier if something unexpected happens.

Before you leave, review your Miway car insurance cover and make sure the protection and assistance you rely on still suit the journey ahead.

Already covered with MiWay? Check your policy details and emergency-assistance benefits before you travel.

Want to review your options? Get a car insurance quote before you hit the road.