Courts take dim view of neglected tyres

2nd December 2013

Alarming new figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal that on average last year, more than 170 motorists in England and Wales were convicted every week for driving on defective tyres.

In total, 10,228 vehicle owners found themselves in court because their tyres were in a dangerous or defective condition, with 8,919 successful prosecutions taking place.

“Regular checks which only take a few minutes to complete should be made at least once a month, yet it’s clear from these latest figures that many drivers are simply not taking these precautions,” Stuart Jackson, the chairman of TyreSafe, said.

“One of the main items for drivers to check, particularly as we approach the wettest months of the year, is that their tyres meet the minimum legal tread depth.  Car and van tyres must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference.”

TyreSafe has developed a quick and easy tyre tread depth check to help drivers see if their tyres are legal using a 20p coin.  Simply insert the coin into the main grooves of the tyre, and if the outer band of the 20p is visible when inserted then the tyre may not have sufficient depth and should be checked by a qualified specialist.

Other areas to inspect include the condition of the tyre, paying particular attention to any cuts, lumps of bulges in the tyre, and ensuring the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.