Tyres are one of the safety elements most often ignored by drivers.

The penalties for faulty tyres are very severe:  3 penalty points and a fine of £2,500 per tyre!

Many drivers underestimate the importance of tyres and remain unaware of the fact that at any one time there are only 4 postcard sized pieces of rubber in contact with the road.

More than two million motorists in the UK are putting their lives at risk by never checking their tyre pressures or tread according to the RAC Foundation.

A survey has also shown:

• 7% of motorists only check their tyre pressures and tread once a year
• 15% of women never check their tyres
• 13% of motorists only make checks when going on a long journey
• 4% make checks every journey
• 21% every week
• 49% once a month

Six per cent of all fatal motorway accidents are caused by the sudden failure of under inflated tyres and worn tyres contribute to 10% of accidents in the wet.

A safety campaign carried out by the Tyre Industry Council revealed that 90% of the cars they tested had under or over inflated tyres despite correct pressures being vital to safe handling, optimum steering, braking and grip.

• Tyre pressures and the condition of your tyres should be checked regularly in order to stay safe on the road.  They should be checked at least every two weeks when the tyres are cold  i.e. before going for a drive.
• The minimum legal tread depth for car tyres is 1.6 mm.
• On a wet road the difference in stopping distance for new and worn tyres can be about one car length – potentially the difference between braking safely and having a crash.
• Tyre pressure naturally falls a little in a month.
• 20% under-inflation can increase tyre wear by 25%, can reduce tyre life by 30% and can reduce fuel economy by 3%.

• Under-inflated tyres  will cause increased fuel consumption, more air pollution, shorter  tyre life, risk of failure and reduced stability in braking and cornering.
• Over-inflated tyres cause poor vehicle handling, reduced stability in braking, cornering  and reduced grip.

On the road, the performance of your tyres could make the difference between living and dying.

Check your tyres regularly and stay safe on the road.

For a free leaflet on tyre safety contact the Road Safety Team on:

020-8708-3692