The penalties for driving without sufficient tyre tread are steep, yet research conducted on behalf of the RAC and TyreSafe suggests that a majority of motorists have no idea how much tread is enough. Nor are they aware of the fines that await should their vehicle’s tyres be found wanting.
Although a solid 66 per cent of the 1,775 drivers surveyed claimed to know what the minimum tyre tread allowed by law is, only 39 per cent actually did. It’s 1.6mm, for those of you playing at home. Perhaps more worryingly, 26 per cent of survey respondents said only check tyre tread when they “remember to do it” or directly before taking a car for its MOT, while five per cent simply wait for their car to fail its annual roadworthiness test before taking any action. Just one third of respondents claimed to check tyre tread at least every month, with 17 per cent saying they check every other month and 15 per cent about every six months.
Half of those who don’t check their tyres regularly comment that it simply “doesn’t cross their mind,” while 40 per cent say they rely on a garage or mechanic to take a look – a risky practice given how infrequently most people visit a garage. Then there’s the 25 per cent of respondents who said they know checking their tyres is important but “just don’t get round to doing it very often” while 15 per cent run the gauntlet because they haven’t experienced a tyre-related problem while driving – yet.
When asked what would encourage them to check their tyres more often, 48 per cent of these drivers said a regular reminder on the in-car display would nudge them into action. While tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are common in vehicles, regular reminders to check tread and pressure are not. But 34 per cent of respondents said nothing would get them to change their behaviour, suggesting some drivers simply don’t believe their tyres will ever let them down or become illegal – despite tyre-related issues being one of the top reasons for calling out an RAC patrol. In 2024, the RAC logged in the region of 340,000 tyre-related breakdowns.
Knowledge about penalties lacking
The findings of this research conducted on behalf of the RAC also indicates that many drivers are in the dark regarding the severe penalties for driving a vehicle with dangerous or defective tyres. Although seven in ten respondents claimed to know what the penalties are, only 16 per cent correctly stated that driving on illegal tyres can lead to a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre. A larger proportion – although still a minority – knew the correct number of penalty points that can be meted out, with 47 per cent aware the penalty stands at three per dangerous or defective tyre.
Previous research for the RAC Report on Motoring 2024 found that 19 per cent of drivers have tried to save money by delaying necessary repairs, or either reduced or stopped servicing their vehicles altogether due to cost – which suggests money worries as a result of the cost-of-living crisis may be having an impact on the safety of many vehicles on the roads today.
Illegal & underinflated tyres
“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,” says RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis. “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. Tyre tread depth gauges are cheap and easy to use, but an even lower cost alternative is to take a 20p piece and place it into the main grooves of each tyre in several different places. If the outer band of the coin is visible, then there’s a very good chance the tyres are unsafe, illegal or both, and it’s time to get them checked them out. Having your car serviced by an RAC Mobile Mechanic would also ensure any tyre issues were picked up.
“Ensuring tyres are inflated to the correct pressures is just as important as checking the tread. Those pumped up too much can cause tread in the centre of tyres to wear down faster, while those underinflated is likely to lead to uneven wear around the edges. Always check the vehicle handbook for the right pressures based on the load being carried in the vehicle. It’s worth remembering these are often also printed on a sticker either on the inside of the driver’s door, in the fuel filler cap, or next to an electric vehicle’s charging socket and can vary between front and back, and vary when carrying lighter or heavier loads.”
Time to A.C.T.
Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, adds: “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.”
