Data from the UK’s largest tyre fitting centre has revealed that more drivers are waiting until their tyres are illegal before replacing them.
Between March 2012 and 2013, 57 per cent of the 39,676 tyres removed by Micheldever Tyre Services had less than 1.6mm of tread. That means the firm’s 59 depots removed 21,719 illegal tyres. In 2008, that figure was only 15 per cent, which suggests that the recession has caused motorists to wait longer before fitting new tyres.
Micheldever’s Wholesale Director, Alan Baldwin, said: “This has to be a direct result of the current economic climate, with consumers delaying tyre purchases wherever possible. Sadly, UK motorists tend not to place the same importance on tyres as drivers in Germany”.
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 act says that a tyre must have a minimum of 1.6mm in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width. The penalty for breaking this law is a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per illegal tyre – so you could face a £10,000 bill and 12 points if all four tyres are illegal.
Worse still, a tyre’s braking performance significantly drops when there’s less than 3mm remaining, so it’s risky, too. An Auto Express test in 2009 found that a car with barely legal tyres took 30-44 metres longer to stop from 70mph than when running tyres with 3mm deep tread – that's nearly four-car lengths.
Worryingly, just three per cent of tyres removed by Micheldever in the last year had more than 2mm tread remaining. “The increasing number of drivers running illegal tread depths is terrifying,” said Baldwin, “Sadly the figures speak for themselves. In 2011 the number of deaths from tyre related accidents doubled against those in 2010.”
Have you been running your tyres for longer to save money? When was the last time you checked your tread depth? Let us know in the comments below.
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While I think it is ridiculous driving around on illegal rubber, it hits home how many families and individuals are so hard pressed they are having to compromise on safety.
Someone needs to wake up this morally bankrupt government and stop their unjustified onslaught on struggling working class families!
For the past 20 years I have only fitted premium brand tyres in pairs or full sets. I am bordering on anal about tyres. I have just been forced to seek a set of part-worns.
“Sadly the figures speak for themselves. In 2011 the number of deaths from tyre related accidents doubled against those in 2010.”
And the figures are???
Still, regardless I change mine at 3mm, clearly I am in the mad minority!
Yet the government and councils would much rather just slash 60mph routes to 40mph for no reason at all, and introduce unenforceable and moronic 20mph zones all over the shop.
Teaching people not to jump in front of cars or enforcing the illegality of bald tyres would be better. Hell, why doesn't the government issue £20 off vouchers or something. Much cheaper than new signage for when they slash speed limits.
questions about the article
Was the tyre breaking test done on a wet or dry road ? because I am led to beleive that bald tyres are better in the dry and of course people should drive slower in the wet should they not ? and haw many "tyre related deaths"were they in 2010/2011and 2012 for it to have doubled ? as for the Germans, they have always been more anal than us so what was the point of mentioning this?
Think some clarification is needed. Just taken my car for an MOT and they mentioned the legal limit of 1.4mm of tyre tread
I run the Hometyre Mobile tyre service in Sussex, and I regularly find many tyres that are way past legal.They often have no tread left and quite often have canvas or even wires exposed. The trend seems to be getting worse as we get further into recession.
The legal limit in the UK is 1.6mm, so if they told you 1.4, they don't know what they are doing.
Although wrong, not surprising. The motorist gets hammered in this country with expense. Fuel charges, road tax (for crumbling roads) plus other items such as insurance etc. When it comes to things like bald tyres and unroadworthy vehicles generally I think the police need to start taking an interest also, and when they are out why dont they target idiots that I often see driving in poor weather conditions without a light on.
String up Blair and Brown and the incumbent buffoons and render them into cheap tyres.
Germans have a much higher standard of living in general.
Why are tyres subject to VAT tax? Surely as a safety item they should be tax free like safety shoes and crash helmets.
Fresh slick rubber gives better grip in the dry, but I believe old rubber that is a result of the tread wearing away would offer less grip than a new grooved tyre, despite the surface area being less due to the freshness and evenness of the new rubber.
They sure do, funded off the back of others.
Do I pay the essential bills, buy food or buy some new tyres? This could get political, however safety standards are usually one of the first things that will be sacrificed when money is tight. Safety costs for no obvious gain.