Road safety campaigners are calling for rules on minimum tyre tread depth to be amended amidst concerns over safety.
That’s because a new study has found that 40% of vehicles on the road have tyres that are either close to the legal limit or illegal entirely.
But with tyre tread depth being left up to drivers and fleets to manage outside of servicing and MOTs, experts believe it’s becoming a serious road safety concern.
The legal limit for tyre tread depth is a minimum of 1.6mm but it’s often prudent to replace tyres before it gets near that limit as it can pose a higher risk of running flat or blowing out entirely.
With many drivers delaying replacing tyres as late as they possibly can, it could be putting other road users at risk.
The issue comes into sharper focus as we move into autumn and wetter conditions become the norm because stopping distances DOUBLE in wet conditions on tyres worn below 2mm.
That’s why there are now calls for legal limits on tyres to increase to 2mm, with a focus on applying the rules in high-traffic areas such as major cities, motorway routes and A-roads.
While fleets already employ strict vehicle safety checks, the same isn’t true of all drivers, leaving the overall road safety picture in a poorer state.
Do you think tyre tread legal limits should increase, with closer monitoring outside of MOTs? Let us know…
