Tread depth

Just over half of UK motorists check their tyre pressures at least once per month, according to research commissioned by Apollo Tyres. Of the 1,000 motorists polled, 15 per cent say they check their tyre pressures weekly, 11 per cent say once a fortnight, and 29 per cent once per month.

An estimated 6 million tyres on the road have illegal tread, according to TyreSafe’s recent Tread Depth survey, meaning many drivers risk three penalty points and a fine, which can be up to a maximum of £2,500, for each defective or illegal tyre. As well as the risks posed by illegal tread on tyres, almost 542,287 drivers are just two tyres away from an automatic driving ban and almost 100,000 who have nine points are just a single tyre away, according to a recent IAM RoadSmart report. These numbers have risen recently – the number of drivers with nine points on their licence has risen 8 per cent in the last year – indicating an urgent need for drivers to pay closer attention to road safety both in their driving behaviour and attention to vehicle maintenance.

Cars, vans and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) legally require a minimum depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around the entire circumference. Drivers caught with illegal tyres risk being hit with a £2,500 fine and three penalty points per tyre. So, do you know how to check your tyres or are you out of your depth?

Regardless of the time of year, our temperate northern climates are increasingly exposed to sudden, heavy rainfall, and the rising rainwater pools do not bode well for motorists on this side of the equator. Should we be worried about aquaplaning? Not with the right preparation and tyres.

Tyre inflation firm PCL is warning motorists they could still face penalties for driving on dangerous tyres tyres following the government MOT extensions.

Tread depth is essential to keep a vehicle in contact with the road in wet conditions and it remains a legal requirement, despite the introduction of a six-month exemption on MoT for Britain’s motorists. TyreSafe is reminding motorists that a tyre being driven below 1.6mm is illegal and if found by the police could result in a fine of up to £2,500 and three-points being added to a driver’s licence – per tyre.