Winter can put a great deal of pressure on your Tyre quality, and whether you realise it or not, the government are on the crackdown when it comes to tyre safety. 

During the winter months its not just snow and ice that make the roads difficult to drive on and impact on your vehicle handling; damp and cold conditions can also affect driving conditions and more importantly, your overall vehicle safety. Many of us tend to overlook the condition of our tyres instead focusing on whether or not we have enough De-icer in the boot! But the time has now come where tyre safety is now a key concern of the UK government and police, and a crackdown on unsafe tyres is now unfolding across Britain.

Up and down the country Vehicle  Inspection Units have been spotted at various locations stopping drivers and carrying out checks. And if your vehicle fails…? Then your wallet is in for a nasty shock.

“85% of motorists are unaware of the illegal Tyre tread depth limit” – Mancheim Auctions Survey 2011

Remember back to the days when you took your driving test and theory? Remember when your instructor kept telling you that once you owned your first car that you must check regularly basic things like Tyre tread depth, brake fluid and oil? Well it seems many of us had switched off during these conversations in eager anticipation of getting our licences changed from green to pink. A recent survey by Manheim Auctions discovered that a shocking 1 in 5 motorists never check their brake fluid, 1 in 6 don’t check brake lights are working correctly and 1 in 9 of us never check Tyre tread depth.

Are your Tyres safe this winter?

With proposals in parliament currently being made to change the MOT test for vehicles to every two years, it has never been more vital that motorists take responsibility for their vehicle safety and ensure they are not putting anyone’s lives at risk whilst on the road.

As it stands the current fine for illegal Tyre tread depth in the UK is a hefty £2500 with the risk of losing your licence if you are driving on four bald Tyres. If you are caught out with even one illegal Tyre, the fine still stands along with three points.

Ignoring vehicle safety checks is dangerous. Its important for motorists to be aware that police are cracking down on safety, especially following winter months when Tyres have had the most wear. Its worth spending 15 minutes making sure your vehicle is safe to drive otherwise it could not only be a costly mistake to your wallet, but also more importantly your life and other road users.