Drivers are putting themselves at risk by not regularly checking the condition of their tyres and not knowing when a tyre becomes illegal and unsafe, the findings of a new survey have found.
The survey, conducted by the RAC with charity TyreSafe, reveals that just 39% of drivers know that the minimum tyre tread allowed by law is 1.6mm, meaning a majority (61%) may be driving on one or more illegal tyres.
And while two-thirds (66%) of respondents claimed they knew what the legal limit was, four-in-10 (41%) of this group subsequently got the figure wrong.
A quarter of drivers (26%) only check tyre tread when they remember to do it or directly before taking a car for its MOT, while 5% never do and wait for their car to fail its annual roadworthiness test before taking any action.
Just a third (33%) said they check tyre tread at least every month, with 17% saying they do so every other month and a similar proportion – 15% – only checking them about every six months.
Of those who don’t check their tyres regularly, half (50%) say it is because doing so simply ‘doesn’t cross their mind’, while four-in-10 (40%) say they rely on a garage or mechanic to do it for them.
A quarter (25%) of this group say they know checking their tyres is important but ‘just don’t get round to doing it very often’ while 15% run the gauntlet because they have not (yet) experienced a tyre-related problem while driving.
When asked what would encourage them to check their tyres more often, almost half (48%) of these drivers said a regular reminder on the in-car display would nudge them into action.
While tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) – which alert drivers when one or more tyres loses pressure – are common in vehicles, such regular reminders to check tread and pressure are not.
Rod Dennis, RAC road safety spokesperson, said: “Driving on tyres that aren’t sufficiently inflated is incredibly dangerous because tyres are the only connection between a vehicle and the road. The safety risk spikes during the winter when wet and potentially snowy roads mean tyres have to work harder than ever to retain grip.
“The latest official data shows 185 people were killed or seriously injured as a direct result of a vehicle having illegal, defective or underinflated tyres in 2023 – an increase of more than a quarter (26%) on the previous year. Add on those serious collisions where drivers have lost control, or where a slippery road has been a factor, and the number runs into the thousands.
“Checking tyre tread takes just moments yet doing so has the potential to save lives on the roads. We’re encouraging every driver to start 2025 on the right note and get into the habit of doing so as often as possible, and at least once a month.”
Stuart Lovatt, chair of TyreSafe, said: “It’s concerning to see some drivers don’t consider the importance of regular tyre checks. Despite the high number of tyre-related breakdowns and the very real risk of incidents, some motorists leave it to their MOT to take action or don’t check at all.
“It’s for this reason that we urge all drivers to make tyre safety a habit by remembering our simple acronym ‘A.C.T’. By checking your tyres’ Air pressure, Condition, and Tread at least once a month – and before any long journey – you can significantly improve your safety on the road and avoid costly incidents.”
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