Skkaries

Check. Your. Tyres.

The UK is facing a serious tyre safety issue, with 40% of vehicles on the road running on tyres that are either illegal or dangerously close to the limit, according to new research from the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA).

The NTDA’s TyreCheck 2025 report, the largest study of its kind in the UK, examined over 58,000 vehicles across 141 locations. It found that 8% of cars had tyres below the 1.6mm legal minimum, while another 32% were on “barely legal” tyres, meaning they technically pass the legal test but offer dangerously poor grip, especially in the wet.

The findings suggest that many motorists are waiting until the very last moment to replace their tyres, putting themselves and others at serious risk.

Key findings:

• Halesowen (West Midlands) is the UK’s most dangerous hotspot, with 71% of cars running on illegal tyres – described as a “public safety emergency.”

• Nationally, 8% of vehicles have illegal tyres, and 32% are on borderline tread depths (1.6–2.0mm).

• Two in five vehicles pose a serious safety risk on UK roads today.

• Regional results vary sharply: Northern Ireland recorded 21% of vehicles on illegal tyres, rising to 57% in focused checks. Major cities also fared poorly, including Sheffield (62%) and Bradford (36%).

• The East of England, Surrey, and Hampshire reported some of the safest results, showing that higher standards are achievable.

Ian Andrew, CEO of the NTDA, said:

“Nearly two in five vehicles are running on tyres that are either illegal or dangerously close to it. This isn’t just a technical problem, it’s a life-threatening one. Drivers are waiting too long to replace tyres, and we need to make tyre safety a national priority.”

The NTDA is calling for urgent action, including:

• Raising the legal tread depth minimum from 1.6mm to 2.0mm

• Targeted safety campaigns in high risk areas

• Financial support for drivers struggling with replacement costs

With stopping distances in wet conditions doubling when tyres are below 2mm, and fines of up to £2,500 per tyre plus three penalty points for illegal tread, the message is clear:
Delaying tyre replacement is not just risky, it’s gambling with lives.