Scotland’s Tyres give ‘Cause for Concern’

The number of worn and defective tyres on Scotland’s roads is still a cause for concern, says the Tyre Industry Council (TIC). Analysis from last year’s tyre checks has indicated that the number of badly worn tyres, having a tread depth at or below 2mm, is 17 per cent.

Roadside tyre checks carried out by Strathclyde Police late last year showed that 9.6 per cent of cars and light vans had one or more tyres below the legal limit.

Peter Taylor, secretary of the TIC said: “We applaud the fact the number of vehicles with illegal tyres fitted is at its lowest ever on the roads but these figures show, the situation is very far from acceptable. As the MIRA tests reveal tyres with very little tread are very dangerous particularly in an emergency situation. The extra time these vehicles may need to stop could mean the difference between stopping safely or continuing that extra few vital yards and causing unnecessary death or injury. We must all work harder to further reduce this percentage”.

The 2005 Scottish tyre safety campaign is scheduled to begin in November.