Less than Super Tyres

They may be worth a hundred grand or more but even the most exotic supercar will seem a whole lot less desirable once it is wrapped around a tree or a lamp post. And according to research by a leading UK tyre organisation, this unpleasant outcome may be far more of a possibility for drivers of supercars than for the rest us lesser mortals.

TyreSafe performed inspections on supercars at a tyre dealer in Southern England over a two-month period, and its findings revealed that 30 per cent of tyres fitted to these vehicles were either badly worn or in some way defective – three times the national average for passenger cars. The non profit organisation considers badly worn tyres to be those with a tread depth of less than three millimetres, as these have significantly reduced roadholding ability and thus are far more likely to be involved in an accident.

TyreSafe suggests that the tyres fitted to many supercars suffer from a lack of tread depth because they are generally not in regular use, meaning weekly checks are not performed. Another potential cause for a lack of frequent inspection is that tyres on high performance cars tend to be concealed under the wheel arch, making checks more difficult.

Drivers of supercars are advised to check their vehicle’s tyres regularly, either by doing so themselves or by making use of the free tyre checks offered by many tyre fitters. A £2500 fine and the loss of three penalty points may apply if a driver is found to be using a vehicle with worn tyres.