Bridgestone has urged motorists to show their vehicle’s tyres some love this Valentine’s Day to avoid fines and stay safe on the roads.
According to a study of 2,000 motorists conducted by the company, 72 percent of drivers admitted that they do not regularly check their tyres.
Andrea Manenti, Bridgestone’s North Region Vice President, noted that showing a little love to car tyres can go a very long way in keeping road users safe.
She advised: “So many of us love our vehicles and attach a number of fond memories to them. However, our research suggests that they would benefit from some much-deserved care and attention, particularly when it comes to tyres.
“They are the only contact points between the car and the road surface, so a bit of time checking the treads and pressures can be all the difference between stopping safely and encountering a potentially dangerous incident.”
Bridgestone highlighted that, according to the charity Tyresafe.org, 4,596 road casualties were caused by badly kept tyres during 2023.
However, in many cases, issues can be avoided by checking the tread depths are deeper than 1.6mm by sticking a 20p piece and seeing if the grooves are deeper than the coin’s outer band.
Drivers should also regularly check their tyre pressures when the car has not been run for a short while, inflating them to the figures stated in the driver’s doorframe and the owners’ handbook.
Edmund King, President of The AA, also suggested that drivers keep a spare wheel in their car, particularly with rougher road surfaces leading to more punctures.
He explained: “A survey of AA members found 82 percent of respondents said they’d prefer to have a spare wheel in their boot rather than a tyre inflation kit. The current pothole pandemic means thousands of cars are suffering from punctures each month.
“However, if more tyres were in better condition, they would be less likely to be affected by potholes. It is worth remembering that tyres are your number one safety asset as they keep you on the road. It is worth regularly checking your tyre pressures and treads.”
However, Bridgestone warned that many motorists are also running the risk of receiving significant fines due to their tyres.
According to the company’s survey, 27 percent of drivers said they run worn-out tyres for up to 100 miles, with a shocking eight percent admitting to driving their vehicle until the tyres are bald.
No matter how worn out the tyres are, if the treads are below the legal limit, drivers could face a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points on their licence for each affected tyre.
