Wet weather should mean tyre checks for UK drivers

Wet weather should mean tyre checks for UK drivers

British drivers are being urged to check their tyres before venturing out on to the road as the British summertime brings its inevitable down pouring of rain.

The last few weeks have seen the UK record the wettest second quarter on record since 1910 and as such TyreSafe is encouraging motorists to ensure their tyres are fit for the wet conditions.

According to the organisation, the wet weather means it is more important than ever to ensure that tyres have adequate tread.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: "Spring felt more like autumn this year with its unusually high rainfall, yet what it does show is that tyre tread depth should be checked regularly, whatever time of year, to make sure they can cope properly with wet roads.

"And there is at least one silver lining to these continuous clouds and that’s the free advice from TyreSafe, which is urging drivers to inspect their tyres simply by using the 20p tread depth check. It's easy to do and could pay dividends."

The 20p check involves inserting a 20p piece into the main groove of the tyre. If drivers can see the outer band of the coin then it is likely that the tyre may not have enough tread to offer full control of the vehicle.

In such cases, car owners are advised to have their tyres checked by a qualified specialist and then replace as necessary with new tyres.

Mr Jackson added: "Tyre safety is about protecting the ones you love, as well as having respect for other road users. However, if that's not enough to spur people into action and to regularly check their tyres all year round, then the heavy fine for driving with illegal tyres certainly is."

Indeed, drivers caught using tyres that are not roadworthy can face fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre of their licence.

In certain cases, this could see UK drivers lose their licence, with new drivers only having six points after initially passing their test.

Posted by Craig Salter