Third of drivers admit to driving with illegal tyres

Almost three quarters of motorists do not check their tyres according to new research by Bridgestone while alarmingly, a third admit to driving on tyres that are below the legal minimal tread depth.

Bridgestone's survey showed that 73% of motorists questioned don't check their tyre treads or pressures themselves, either never thinking about it, leaving it to the garage to do or asking their partners to check instead.

Yet poor tyre maintenance is one of the most common reasons for accidents in the UK. So the fact that 27% of drivers admit to running tyres for up to 100 miles after they become illegal will be shocking to many. A further 8% continue to drive on their tyres until they are bald.

As Bridgestone points out, tyres are the only contact points between the car and the road surface, so a bit of time checking the treads and pressures can be all the difference between stopping safely and encountering a potentially dangerous incident.

The research ties in with Tyresafe statistics that show there were 4596 casualties from tyre-related incidents on UK roads in the past years. It's estimated there are in the region of 10 million illegal tyres on Britain’s roads each year.

"So many of us love our vehicles and attach a number of fond memories to them," says Andrea Manenti, Bridgestone's North Region Vice President.

"However, our research suggests that they would benefit from some much-deserved care and attention, particularly when it comes to tyres."