Life has enough pressures – don’t let tyres be one

TyreSafe has launched its annual Tyre Safety Month campaign, highlighting how everyday stress and financial worries are leading drivers to neglect simple tyre checks – at precisely the time of year when they are most needed.

October is statistically the UK’s wettest month, when stopping distances are at their most critical and tyre performance ‘can be the difference between life and death’.

This October marks almost 20 years since TyreSafe first coined and championed Tyre Safety Month, which has since become the UK’s largest annual road safety initiative focused on tyres.

The theme for the 2025 campaign is ‘under pressure’, with a survey revealing the effect stress is having on vehicle maintenance:

• 35% of drivers admit stress has affected their concentration while driving, with one in five experiencing a near miss as a result.
• 86% of drivers feel stressed or overwhelmed during the week, with students and younger drivers most likely to delay or avoid tyre checks.
• Less than half (46%) of drivers check tyre pressures monthly, as recommended. Instead, many wait for a warning light (16%) or assume tyres are fine (37%).
• Three in five drivers (61%) agree that knowing their tyres were correctly inflated would actually reduce stress while driving.

Throughout October, TyreSafe’s national network of over 220 supporters – including police forces, fire services, councils, retailers, motoring organisations and businesses – will roll out targeted campaign resources:

• Posters, social graphics, and video explainers tailored to all vehicle groups.
• Short social videos designed to reach younger, time-pressured drivers.
• Local events and tyre safety check days.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe chair, said: “Twenty years ago, TyreSafe first introduced Tyre Safety Month to bring national attention to a subject that too often goes unnoticed. Two decades on, the problem is still with us – and in fact, casualties linked to illegal or poorly maintained tyres are rising.

“Our latest research shows that stress and financial pressure are leading people to skip even the simplest of tyre checks. But with October bringing wet roads and longer stopping distances, now is the most important time to act.

“Tyres shouldn’t be another source of stress—they should be your first line of defence. By following our ACT principle—checking Air pressure, Condition and Tread—road users can save money, reduce anxiety, and most importantly, save lives.”

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