Condition of tyres critical as wet weather sweeps across UK

With the latest bout of extreme weather forecast to last for much of the week ahead, which is battering the UK with heavy rain and gale force winds, TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyre safety organisation, is calling on motorists to take added care, and to spend time checking their tyres before driving. Many roads are experiencing high levels of standing water, with more heavy rainfall scheduled, therefore presenting added dangers to drivers.

Recent research has indicated that skidding in the wet is a motorist's major fear, which can result from reduced adhesion of the tyre following driving through deep water. The build-up of rainfall on the road can equally cause aquaplaning, the loss of steering capability and grip, as a result of a layer of water forming between the tyre and road surface.

The risks associated with wet weather driving can be reduced through maintaining tyres to the manufacturer recommended pressures and to the legal minimum tread depth. Worrying findings have revealed that almost 25% of all cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one defective or badly worn tyre, highlighting the importance of having tyres conforming to the minimum legal requirements. In addition, braking distances are significantly extended in the wet by up to four times compared to dry conditions.

TyreSafe is recommending motorists undertake a simple 5 minute tyre safety check to ensure that their tyres are safe before starting their journey.

1. Check, and adjust if necessary, the tyre pressure in each tyre including the spare as recommended in the manufacturer’s handbook;
2. Clean dirt from around valves and fit dust caps to all tyres;
3. Remove stones and other foreign objects from the tread;
4. Check that tyres have at least 1.6mm of tread across three quarters of the width of the tyre. TyreSafe recommends that motorists consider changing tyres when the tread falls below 3mm;
5. Check for uneven tyre wear which might mean steering misalignment or out of balance wheels;
6. Check tyres for cuts and bulges which could render the tyre defective and potentially dangerous; and
7. TyreSafe recommends that if tyres need replacing they should be replaced in two’s or all four.

For more information about caring for your tyres, download free tyre safety leaflets from the TyreSafe website at tyresafe.org/tyre-safety.