18 October 2016
3 Mins read

Drivers reminded about tyre checks

Motorists are being reminded to ensure their tyres are not defective otherwise they could have points added to their driving licence.

Research by Kwik Fit revealed tyres now account for around for 50 per cent of all defective vehicle offences in the UK.

Using data from the past three years, it was discovered the majority of offences related to tyres were for insufficient tread, with 65 per cent of cases being below the legal minimum of 1.6mm.

In another UK wide study conducted by Tyresafe and Highways England estimated that around ten million vehicles could be driving on illegal tyres.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: "These figures reveal that some drivers on British roads are taking serious risks with both their own safety and the safety of other road users. We would encourage drivers to pay much closer attention to the condition of their tyres – after all they are the only things keeping their car connected to the road.

"There is absolutely no excuse for a tyre being worn down so far that its ply or cord is exposed – it will have gone past the legal minimum way before that point. If drivers are trying to save money on their motoring, then risking penalty points, a fine and higher insurance premiums by not replacing their tyres is not the best way to go about it."