The road safety charity ’ s survey – in partnership with Highways England – shows that more than 25 % of drivers that recently replaced a tyre waited until it was illegal . When multiplied , this suggests that there are more than ten million illegal – and potentially life threatening – tyres in England , Scotland and Wales . This equates to one in four of the nation ’ s 35.3 million cars and light commercial vehicles . The latter incorporates panel vans and their derivatives , car-based vans , and pick-up trucks ( up to 3.5 tonnes ). TyreSafe says it is “ reiterating its long-standing message about simple tyre safety maintenance ”. It emphasises that tread depth plays a “ decisive factor ” in how effectively a vehicle brakes - particularly when the road surface is wet . Research – the not-for-profit organisation says – shows that the braking distance from 50 mph to 0 mph in the wet increases by more than the length of a shipping container when using old tyres rather than new ( 14m ).

people and lots of cargo . Check the pressure once a week using a high quality gauge . The tyre has to be cool for the reading to be accurate . It is also wise to cross reference the reading using a second gauge .

TYRE TREAD The purpose of tread is to remove rain water so the tyre makes contact with the road . Without it , the vehicle floats on top of the water and cannot be steered . The legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central 75 % of a tyre ’ s width , and around its circumference . This can be checked via a manual or digital gauge . The alternative is the wear indicators . When a tyre is new , these small rectangular pieces of rubber sit deep within its tread . Once it is worn to the legal limit the indicators sit flush with the surface of the tyre .

CARE TIPS FOR TYRES Maintaining and inspecting a tyre extends its life and enables the vehicle to handle , ride and brake at its best . Clearly , this is important for road safety . There are legal implications too . The maximum penalty for having a defective car tyre is a £ 2,500 fine and 3 penalty points ( per-corner ). It can invalidate insurance too .

TYRE PRESSURE Optimum pressure can be confirmed via the vehicle ’ s manual or a sticker on its a-pillar . Open the driver ’ s door to reveal the latter . A front tyre might – only might – have a different requirement than a rear . It is also common to have a recommendation for lighter loads – such as carrying a couple of people and a little luggage – and a higher recommendation for five

TYRE POSITION A front tyre typically wears faster than a rear . Why ? Because in a front-wheel-drive car – which most people have – it experiences more stress . It has to transfer the engine power into momentum , take the majority of the braking force , and steer . The solution is to periodically rotate the front and rear tyres to share the load .

TYRE ALIGNMENT Alignment problems cause a tyre to wear prematurely and unevenly . Spotting it early – by

checking for consistent wear across its entire width – minimises the impact as it can be corrected before there is significant damage . Alignment relates to angles . The most recognised terms are tow and camber . Imagine an aerial view of a tyre . Toe is the angle its leading edge points to the centre of the car , or out to the road . Then there is camber . Look at a tyre from the front . Camber is the angle its top leans into the wing or outwards . Such adjustments might best be completed by a specialist .

DRIVING STYLE Driving style influences how long a tyre lasts . Hard cornering forces a vehicle to lean heavily onto the shoulder of a tyre , for example , which increases wear in a focussed spot . Hard acceleration that causes wheel spin further reduces life , as does braking hard and leaving skid marks on the road surface . Furthermore , thrashing through potholes at high speed – rather than steering around them or slowing down – often weakens a tyre to the point of destruction .

DAMAGE Damage can kill a tyre . However , spotting certain kinds early ensures there is some chance of a repair . A tyre with a puncture in the centre of its tread might be salvageable – but not if it runs flat at speed and wrecks the side wall . Check regularly for punctures that can be repaired plus cracks and bulges which cannot .

www . tyresafe . org