This October is tyre safety month, and as the weather has yet to decide what it’s doing, be prepared for a mix of wet, dry, slippery and possibly icy roads. Now, checking your tyres shouldn’t be an annual event, but ‘safety month’ is a good as any time to do it!

Driving in wintry conditions can be dangerous, and taking a little extra care to ensure your tyres are in good condition can make a big difference to your handling and your safety. Snow, ice and wet roads all affect the grip of your tyres. Add to this incorrect tyre pressure, worn down tyre tread and damage to the tyre itself and you could have a recipe for disaster.

Checking Your Tyre Pressure

A good place to start is your vehicle’s manual or handbook, which will tell you the correct tyre pressure for the season and the load you’re carrying. 6% of fatal car accidents are due to vehicles having the wrong tyre pressure – so it’s not something to be taken lightly. Over or under-inflated tyres can also make a vast difference to your fuel economy and general ride. Under-inflated tyres in particular are a danger because the pressure from the weight of the car causes them to overheat and lead to blowouts. Always check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold and on even ground, ideally before you set out on a journey.

Checking Your Tread Depth

Low tread depth is also a danger to your driving, as it reduces grip and increases stopping distance. There’s also a whopper of a fine if you get caught with illegal tread depth on your tyres – up to £2,500 in fines and 3 penalty points per tyre. To stay legal, make sure your tyres have at least 1.6mm of tread depth across the middle three quarters. Ideally, you should get your tyres changed when tread depth reaches around 3mm, as anything under this depth increases the risk of aquaplaning.

Checking your tyre condition

You should also check the integrity of your tyres regularly – you’re looking for any cuts, bulges or embedded objects (such as nails). All these things need to be checked by a tyre specialist and the tyres either repaired or replaced.

Stay safe, everyone, and don’t forget to check your tyres regularly – it can save you money, fuel and even save lives.