UK drivers better at tyre pressure checks, but worse than Europeans at tread depth

Just over half of UK motorists check their tyre pressures at least once per month, according to research commissioned by Apollo Tyres. Of the 1,000 motorists polled, 15 per cent say they check their tyre pressures weekly, 11 per cent say once a fortnight, and 29 per cent once per month.

Apollo Tyres advises drivers to check their tyre pressures at least once per month, but many do so less frequently: 19 per cent say they check once per quarter, 9 per cent once every six months and 3 per cent say they complete a check just once per year. 8 per cent never check their tyre pressures.

When it comes to tread depth, in the Apollo Tyres UK survey, a significant 15 per cent say they never conduct such checks. Among those that do assess tread depth, the frequencies cited most often are once per month (22%) and once per quarter (17%). While the legal minimum tread depth in Europe is 1.6mm, Apollo Tyres advises motorists to replace tyres when the tread depth falls to 2mm. The tread main grooves on a tyre have a Tread Wear Indicator (TWI); when the tread is worn down to these indicators, the tyre has reached the minimum legal level.

A significant majority (79%) say they check the sidewall and tread of their tyres for damage, although the frequency of these checks varies considerably. Monthly checks are the most common (21%), followed by quarterly checks (16%). 15% say they only assess sidewall and tread for damage once per year or less, while 16% never carry out such checks.

Less than half of EU motorists do monthly tyre checks

However, perhaps surprisingly, less than half of European motorists conduct the recommended check of tyre pressures at least once per month, according to the parallel European Apollo Tyres survey. Of the 6,000 motorists polled in this case, 8 per cent say they check their tyre pressures weekly, 10 per cent say once a fortnight, and 29 per cent once per month.

24 per cent say they check their pressures once a quarter, 13 per cent once every six months and 5 per cent say they complete a check just once per year. 5 per cent never check their tyre pressures.

“Tyre pressures should ideally be checked every 14 days, and as a minimum at least once a month and always before a long journey,” advises Yves Pouliquen, Group Head of Sales and Marketing at Apollo Tyres. “Drivers should also periodically check the pressure of the spare tyre so it can be relied upon in the event of an emergency, noting that these tyres often need to operate at a higher pressure.”

“If you do not have the instruction manual to hand, you can typically find the recommended tyre pressures on the B-pillar beside the driver or inside of the tank filler flap,” says Pouliquen. “It’s important to note that pressures will often be different from front to rear, to account for the vehicle’s fixed distribution of weight and to allow for any temporary increase in load – for example when carrying multiple passengers or luggage.”

Tyre and vehicle manufacturers also recommend that owners conduct regular checks of tread depth, to ensure grip and traction is maintained. However, in the Apollo Tyres survey, a significant 11 per cent say they never conduct such checks. Among those that do assess tread depth, the frequencies cited most often are once per quarter (20%) and once per month (18%).

A significant majority (84%) say they check the sidewall and tread of their tyres for damage, although the frequency of these checks varies considerably. Monthly checks are the most common (21%), followed by quarterly checks (19%). 12 per cent say they only assess sidewall and tread for damage once per year or less, while 12 per cent never carry out such checks.

As well as the European standard for normal tread depth, for winter tyres, weather considerations mean that the wear limit is set at 4mm. Winter tyres with less than 4mm tread depth cease, in principle, to be true winter tyres and in some countries this is laid down by law. In addition to the TWI, winter tyres also have a Winter Wear Indicator (WWI), with a height of 4mm indicating the effective limit for operation in winter conditions.

Pouliquen adds: “Our Vredestein passenger car tyres are put through rigorous testing processes across a multitude of conditions and scenarios, but they cannot operate effectively if the pressure falls outside recommended levels. There is clearly a lack of understanding among motorists about what kind of checks should be conducted, and with what regularity. The onus is upon the tyre industry as a whole – manufacturers, retailers and fitters – to provide additional ongoing guidance and support to consumers.”

1 in 20 Dutch cars drive on dangerous tyres

Meanwhile, VACO, the Dutch trade association for the tyre and wheel industry, examined the tyres of 1,501 passenger cars during 2023. The association was “shocked” to find that “almost 5 per cent of those cars have at least one tyre that should be replaced immediately.” While it is true that – extrapolated across the Netherlands car parc that figure equates to half a million cars.

As in the UK, Dutch are legal required to run on tyres with “a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm”. However, local testing standards are higher and during the local equivalent of the MOT inspection (the APK), the minimum tread depth is 2.5 mm. That detail highlights the difference between the UK and Holland. To put VACO’s findings in comparison with the UK context, in November 2023, TyreSafe, Imperial College, London, and National Highways reported that more than half of tyres replaced in the UK have illegal or borderline tread depth. So, not only are the Dutch three-to-four times better when it comes to “dangerous” levels of tread depth. The depth at which tyres are classified as dangerous is also higher.

Nevertheless, according to the VACO data, in the Netherlands, one or more tyres had visible damage in 3.9 per cent of the cars examined. That includes sidewall deformation, cuts and aging. Of course, damaged tyres are more sensitive and can therefore leak more quickly or pose another hazard.

When it comes to tyre age, VACO recommends replacing tyres aged 10 years onwards. During the research it turned out that 12 per cent of the tyres were older than 10 years. Based on the above tread depth (and therefore wear-related replacement data), it is reasonable to assume that a similar or greater proportion of tyres in the UK are 10 years old or older.

VACO director Carlo Hijzen pointed to the increasingly longer maintenance intervals as an explanation for association’s findings: “30,000 kilometres is no longer an exception. This especially applies to electric cars. The danger is that a car drives tens of thousands of kilometres without a professional looking at it. As a motorist you have no idea to what extent your tyres have been worn or damaged in the meantime.”

Another important point is that the APK/MOT is a snapshot, according to Hijzen: “A car that still looks neat approved by the MOT, sometimes quickly no longer meets the requirements. The period between two MOTs is one or two years. A lot can happen to the tyres in the meantime.”

Tyre specialist Daan Hoogendoorn of dealer Profile Mijdrecht recognizes the results of the research: “Every week I’m shocked by what I see. And don’t think that it is only the older cars who drive on dangerous tyres. For example, electric cars are heavy and they accelerate quickly. Combined with enthusiastic driving behaviour, a tyre can wear out much faster. We sometimes get young ones here, electric cars where we see the steel belt of the tyres; all the rubber has worn away. Very dangerous!”

It encouraging to see that the rate at which UK drivers are checking their tyre pressures appears slightly greater than European colleagues. However, when you compare both the details of UK tread depth research and the Dutch VACO survey, it is clear that the tread depth situation is still far worse than on the Continent.