Did you know that you’re not insured if you drive on illegal tyres? If you are involved in a crash and you are found to be driving on tyres that have a tread depth of less than 1.6mm, you could be facing a very hefty fine.
Worn tyres can have the biggest impact on the performance of your car. They can affect braking, steering and acceleration, which are all key to keeping you on the road. Putting a few minutes aside to check your tyres before deciding to jump in the car and drive away can keep you and your family safe.
Tyre Pressure
A tyre doesn’t have to be completely flat to be underinflated. It is recommended that you check the pressure of your tyres at least once a fortnight. If you aren’t sure what the correct pressure of your tyres should be, then check your Vehicle Manual.
Driving around with under/overinflated tyres can massively affect the control you have of your car. Additionally, the wrong tyre pressure can also increase tyre wear. This then shortens the lifespan of the tyres and increases the chances of your tyres failing whilst driving.
Wheel Alignment
If your tyre is evenly worn across the surface, it could be a sign of over/under inflation. However, if it is only worn down one edge of the tyre, then this is most likely to be a result of poor wheel alignment. A professional mechanic can look at your tracking for you and correct the issue if needed.
Tread Depth
The current legal limit for a tyres tread depth is 1.6mm, and this must be across 75% of the entire tyre. If you were to ignore the limit and go beyond it, then you are not only putting yourself and others at risk. It is also illegal. For every illegal tyre that you are found with, you could face a fine of up to £2500 for each tyre and up to 3 points on your license.
An easy way to regularly keep a check on your tyres tread depth is by conducting the 20p test. Take the 20p and place it into the grooves of your tyre. If you can see the outer band of the coin, then the tread of your tyre may be too short. You should ask a qualified mechanic to check this over if this is the case.
Spare Tyre
You never know when you may need one. That pothole that creeps up on you or that nail left on the floor could cause serious damage. Checking the pressure and tread depth of the spare tyre is essential, as a faulty spare tyre is just as useless as the one you’re trying to replace.
It is 100x better to discover any of these problems at home and in a safe environment than at the hard shoulder of a motorway.
High-Quality Tyres
A high-quality tyre is essential for the safety of yourself and others. A brand such as Dunlop prides themselves in being one of the world’s top tyre brands known. They have a reputation for making high-performance tyres designed to provide maximum grip, precise handling and a comfortable ride. Some of their most popular tyres are their Sport BluResponse, SP Sport Maxx RT 2, SP Sport 01 and the StreetResponse 2.
Having any of the above tyres, along with following our safety checks, can ensure you stay safe on all of your travels. To learn more about checking your tyres and keeping safe on the roads, check out our official blog page for more articles and guides.