This October could be the perfect time to show your tyres some love as Tyre Safety Month gets under way.
The campaign organised by charity TyreSafe, the UK’s leading authority on tyre safety, has the full support of national breakdown provider Start Rescue and its hundreds of vehicle recovery professionals working across the UK.
“Checking your tyres for the correct pressure, tread and condition means you can avoid being stuck at the side of the road this autumn and far more importantly, you’ll be keeping yourself and other road users safe,” said Start Rescue’s Managing Director Lee Puffett.
Start Rescue’s UK headquarters, which tracks the causes of breakdowns, shows that tyre-related incidents remain the second most common cause for UK call-outs. Between January and August 2022, the total was 17% and during the same period in 2023 the figures showed a small increase.
“These figures remain stubbornly high and it’s why we strongly support Tyre Safety Month,” added Lee Puffett. “Achieving greater awareness about simple, vital checks which we can all do is key.”
Looking out for your tyres
- Check tyres every two weeks
- Correctly inflate tyres according to car’s handbook
- Uneven wear indicates incorrect inflation
- Use a 20p coin to check tread depth – with the coin stood in the tread groove you should not be able to see the coin’s outer band
- Minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm, but it’s safer to replace tyres at 3mm wear depth
- Check age stamp on side wall and replace older tyres even if they have plenty of tread
- Ask a tyre specialist for advice if you’re unsure