10% of UK Motorists Driving on Illegal Tyres – Conti Survey

According to a survey conducted by Continental, more than 3.5 million UK motorists are driving on illegal tyres. The survey of 4,000 drivers showed one in ten to have tyres below the legal 1.6mm minimum tread depth – and 70 per cent of drivers are unaware that 1.6mm is indeed the minimum depth permitted.

Two thirds of women, the Conti survey noted, rely upon their partner to check the safety of their vehicle’s tyres. This probably isn’t a sterling idea, given that four out of ten motorists never actually check their tyre pressure and a third can’t actually change a wheel.

“It takes very little time to check,” commented Continental head of safety Tim Bailey. “Yet we still do not recognise the risks we take by not checking. It takes less than three minutes to check tyre tread depth and tyre pressure.

“A new website www.3minmax.com can educate drivers on how to perform simple tyre checks and other guidance on safe motoring,” Bailey added. “Not only will it keep you legal and safe, but motoring costs are reduced if tyres are maintained and properly inflated. In addition, properly maintained tyres will significantly enhance car handling.”

And whilst a fifth of respondents suspect they are driving on tyres probably below the legal minimum tread depth they have not done anything about it with the majority of motorists being prompted to change tyres only after failing an MOT.

Bailey continued: “1.6mm is the legal limit, however extensive testing has shown that the effectiveness of tyres drops significantly below 3mm. For example, when braking from 70mph in wet weather a car with 1.6mm of tyre tread will still be travelling at 50mph when the same car with 3mm tread will have already stopped.” According to the study, only 20 per cent of road users have at least 3mm of tyre tread yet nearly 80 per cent of drivers have noticed the performance and road handling of their car deteriorate when their tyres have become worn.

“Eight in 10 respondents believe there is not enough information available on how to check tyres and general issues of road safety which underlines the need for this new website and the invaluable advice it can offer,” Bailey concluded.