Faulty tyres most common reason for MOT failures

Fleet managers are being urged to take extra care ensuring tyre safety. Statistics recently published under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed millions of UK drivers are putting themselves and fellow road drivers at risk by heading onto the roads with unsafe or illegal tyres.

An astonishing 2.2 million cars failed MOTs last year due to the state of their tyres, according to data provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVLA).

Speaking on behalf of TyreSafe, one of the UK’s leading tyre safety organisations, chairman Stuart Jackson said: ‘It beggars belief that so many motorists can fail their MOT because of unsafe or illegal tyres. Your safety on the road is totally dependent upon the condition of your tyres so it’s vital that you check these regularly throughout the year, let alone just before you take your MOT.’

Frustration at the frequency with which cars fail MOTs for this reason are easy to understand, as tyres are one of the easiest items on a car to check, meaning there is no excuse for the statistics revealed.

What’s more, a recent study by the Department for Transport showed more than 968 motoring fatalities were the result of illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres in 2013.

Such findings show a negligent approach to tyre safety has serious, far-reaching effects on road accidents and is not to be taken lightly.

In an effort to help the situation, suspecting many motorists simply don’t know what they’re looking for, many garages across the country are advertising free, no-strings-attached tyre safety checks in an effort to aid understanding among drivers. The initiative will take place as part of October Tyre Safety Month all over the UK.

The offer may well be of use to fleet drivers, who can take advantage of the scheme by visiting www.tyresafe.org and using the dealer locator tool to find participating outlets.

Jackson noted seasonal changes may have serious consequences for road casualties when tyre safety is considered, saying: ‘We are entering the most treacherous period of the year when the roads can become very wet and slippery so it’s essential that your tyres are in the best possible condition.’

He went on:

‘Driving on dangerous or illegal tyres can leave you vulnerable to a number of hazards such as longer stopping distances, loss of grip or an increased risk of aquaplaning but these can all be minimised with appropriate safety checks.’

There are simple, visual methods for ensuring sufficient grip on your tyres. The legal minimum for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm – the same as the outer strip on a 20p coin. If the outer strip is not hidden by the tread, a driver knows a tyre change is necessary.