Study Reveals High Proportion of Dangerously Worn Tyres in Use

If Doctor Foster had gone to Gloucester in 2009 he’d have had more to worry about than puddles. According to a three-month study carried out by the Chris Mullins Tyres, more than three quarters of motorists in the southwest town are leaving it too late before they replace worn, damaged and potentially dangerous tyres. Staff at the Gloucester based tyre specialist found that almost 77 per cent of the 3,050 tyres they examined from cars, 4x4s and light vans between May and the end of July were already worn below the legal limit of 1.6mm.

The Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership notes that “driving on defective tyres is dangerous and illegal – so start checking them now, before it’s too late.” Specifically, worn tyres can particularly affect the safety and performance of the vehicle in wet driving conditions like those so common this summer. Driving a vehicle fitted with tyres worn below the legal limit also carries the risk of a maximum fine of £2,500 and licence endorsement points in prosecuted cases.

Commenting on the survey results, Garry Handley, driver training manager at Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, said “You need good tyres to drive safely. They are your only contact with the road and affect steering, braking and acceleration of your vehicle, and each tyre has a contact patch on the road about the size of a large footprint, so it is vital that drivers and riders regularly check their tyres, including the spare.

“This survey of over 3,000 tyres shows that many motorists seem to be ignoring this advice, and taking risks with their safety, and the safety of those they share the vehicle with and the roads, as well as breaking the law,” Handley added.

Chris Mullins says he believes the appalling figures reflect the fact that too many motorists are not aware of tyre legislation and that many are also feeling the financial pinch, leading to delays in fitting replacement tyres. “It’s no coincidence that we’re seeing more badly worn tyres brought into the centre than at any other time since I’ve been involved in the industry over the past 20 years,” he said.

“Tyres are often a distress purchase when the car fails the MOT and not enough motorists realise that it is an offence to drive on tyres with less than 1.6 mm of tread. But the recession is also a big factor. When money is tight people are understandably tempted to put off spending on their cars and that results in more horror tyres on local roads.

“Motoring costs have gone up despite the recession,” he continues, “particularly things like fuel and insurance, but it’s a false economy to ignore tyres as drivers run the risk of prosecution, fines and penalty points. They also compromise their safety and that of their passengers and other road users,” Mullins concluded.