The shocking truth uncovered by a recent survey run by a car insurance comparison site is that more than half of the drivers in the UK don’t know what the legal minimum tread depth is for their tyres! Whether you are the driver or the owner, the legality of your tyres is your responsibility. If you are caught with a tyre below the legal tread depth, not only could you be fined up to £2,500, but you could also have three points added to your license. And that is per tyre, so four illegal tyres would result in your driving license being revoked!

Why are worn tyres clamped down on so hard? Many accidents in the UK could be avoided if the cars were driving with less worn tyres. Lack of tread affects your stopping distance, and accidents or points on your license can both affect your insurance premiums. In fact, you might not be able to buy cover if you do have an accident while driving with illegal tyres fitted to your car.

While your car tyres are not illegal until you hit 1.6mm, the recommended tread depth is over 3mm, and at 3mm you should start thinking about replacing your car tyres. Once your tyres are at 1.6mm, you need to get some replacement car tyres fitted right away, and in the meantime you should avoid driving your vehicle. A quick and simple method of checking your tread depth is by inserting a 20 pence piece into the central tread on your tyres. If the rim of the coin is visible above the tread, then the tyres need replacing.

The survey also discovered that 60% of drivers have no idea how to go about putting air in their tyres, and 14% weren’t even aware they were supposed to! Incorrect tyre pressure is the cause of many accidents as it can affect your steering, stopping distance, handling around corners, as well as actually causing skidding or spontaneous blow outs.

Checking the condition and pressure of your tyres regularly is a simple thing every driver can do to help reduce the risk of an accident. Putting off replacing your tyres because of cost may be tempting when you are on a budget, but you can cheap tyres online so staying safe doesn’t need to be expensive. Buying your car tyres from an online tyre specialist means you can still buy premium or high quality budget tyres, but paying internet prices, and without missing out on the ease of visiting your local garage or having a mobile tyre fitting van visit you.

Illegal tyres aren’t just a danger to your driving license, your bank balance and your insurance costs, but also your life, your family’s lives and other drivers’ lives. So remember to check your tyres regularly, or have them checked and replaced if necessary at your local garage, and don’t forget to save money on top brand tyres by buying online.

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