Over 10 million illegal tyres on UK and Northern Ireland roads – survey claims

Over 10 million UK and Northern Ireland motorists could drive a vehicle with an illegal and dangerous tyre during 2016 according to results of the most comprehensive survey of its kind.
The survey, conducted by TyreSafe in partnership with Highways England, revealed more than 27 per cent of tyres were already illegal when they were replaced. That equates to more than one-in-four of the 37 million cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the UK’s roads being driven with a tyre al illegal and dangerous tyre.

The survey’s findings confirm fears among road safety stakeholders of a poor attitude towards tyre safety among UK motorists, which is increasing the risk of drivers being involved in an incident. A vehicle’s tyres are the only safety critical component in contact with the road and if unroadworthy the effectiveness of the vehicle’s braking and steering systems are significantly compromised.
In particular, tread depth has a decisive impact on the amount of distance a vehicle takes to stop in the wet, and must be of at least the minimum legal limit (1.6mm). Previous studies* have proven that the braking distance of a vehicle with tread of 1.6mm is nearly 12m further than a vehicle with new tyres when braking in the wet from 50mph.

The results follow a survey of over 340,000 tyres as they were being replaced at 819 retail outlets across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and compiled by TyreSafe. The average proportion of illegal tyres at the point of replacement across the UK was 27.3% but variances between the four home nations were also highlighted with Wales (29.1%) and particularly Northern Ireland (36.5%) recording a higher proportion of illegal tyres. Scotland’s results were on par with the UK average at 27.4% while England recorded the lowest proportion at 26.8%.

However, a concerning trend has been identified in the number of tyres which were illegal and below 2mm at the point of replacement. On average this was 70.4% across all the UK with remarkable consistency in each of the home nations. This figure has increased since last year’s tread depth survey by TyreSafe in partnership with Highways England which revealed 66% of tyres fell into this category. If this trend continues, TyreSafe is warning that higher numbers of dangerous and illegal tyres will be driven on the UK’s roads in 2017.

Motorists can help reduce the risks to themselves and other road users by carrying out tyre checks every month and before long journeys. The air pressure in each tyre should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings and can be found in the owner’s manual, filler cap, door shut or on a plaque in the glove compartment. Tread depth should be over the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, roughly the same as the rim of a 20p piece which can be used as a guide by inserting into the tyre’s tread. If the rim is visible, the tyre may be illegal and the assistance of a tyre professional should be sought. While checking tread depth, also look out for any lumps, bumps, signs of ageing or scuffing on the tyre which may indicate internal damage. Again, speak to a tyre professional should the driver find anything they are unsure about.