Drivers face £10,000 fine for common tyre mistake – how to avoid it

CAR maintenance might not be at the top of drivers’ to-do list, and it’s all too easy to go months without checking whether your vehicle meets current laws.

But motorists could face a hefty fine if their tyres aren’t up to scratch.

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The RAC recommends checking your tyres every two weeks[/caption]

Car tyres must have a minimum tread of 1.6mm.

Without decent tread, tyres don’t have sufficient grip on the road and you may be at risk of sliding.

As well as being unsafe, driving with dangerous or defective tyres also puts drivers at risk of a fine of up to £2,500 and three points on their license.

That is per tyre, so four illegal tyres could mean a fine of £10,000 and 12 penalty points.

According to research conducted by car company Evans Halshaw, more than 8.5 million UK motorists could be driving with illegal tyres.

Cars between 5 and 10 years old were most at risk, the survey found.

Here are some tips to make sure your tyres are safe:

What is the law about tyre tread?

Under UK law, tyre tread must be a certain depth depending on the type of vehicle.

For cars, light vans and light trailers, tyres must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth, while for motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles, it’s 1mm.

Mopeds only need to have visible tread.

Tyres also need to be free of cuts and defects.

Why is tyre tread important?

Without good tread, your car will take longer to stop.

Worn tyres are particularly dangerous in the wet because a tyre’s tread helps disperse water away from where the tyre meets the road.

If there’s less tread depth, less water can be moved away, increasing the risk of aquaplaning and losing grip or sliding.

Although 1.6mm is the legal limit, some tyre and safety experts recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm before you need to think about tyre replacement.

Tests by technical organisation MIRA found that, once tyres are below 3mm, stopping distances increase dramatically.

How to check tyre tread depth

You can check the depth of your tyres very simply using a 20p.

Just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre.

If you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.

However, if you can see the band and that section of the coin is still visible, your tyres could be unsafe and you should get them checked by a mechanic.

The RAC suggests drivers should conduct the 20p test around every two weeks and before long journeys.

You can also buy specific tyre tread gauges to check more accurately.

Some companies, including Formula One Autocentres and Kwikfit, also offer a free winter safety check which includes assessing your tyres for wear.

What happens if you have an accident on illegal tyres?

Driving with tyres that have a tread below the legal limit can put you and other motorists at risk.

If you are involved in an accident and the car you are driving has illegal or bald tyres, you should be aware of the consequences.

Any insurance claim as a result of an accident could be invalidated, so potentially your insurer won’t pay out any money for any repairs needed to your vehicle.