Urgent road warning as hard-up drivers putting off changing tyres for longer because of cost of living crisis
AN urgent warning has been issued as hard-up drivers put off changing tyres for longer amid the cost of living crisis.
As prices continue to soar in the UK, research has shown that more dangerous cars are being left on the road as people try to save money on new wheels.
More cars are being spotted with low tyre tread during MOTs - a problem which reduces the grip and braking performance of vehicles.
Two-thirds of motorists now say they are more likely to delay changing their tyres, and will try to use them for longer due to the increased cost of living.
Worrying data from motoring retailer Halfords shows more 13 per cent of vehicles now fail MOTs based on the condition of tyres.
Furthermore, three in ten cars now receive a "tyre advisory" during their MOT - a warning that, whilst not illegal, means tyres have less than 3mm of tread remaining, and could be illegal in a matter of months.
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Many cars that receive the warnings will be nearing the 1.6mm limit, meaning they are likely to become illegal far sooner.
Despite the danger, just 27 per cent of motorists say they would change their tyres immediately if they were given such a warning during an MOT.
Most worrying of all, 14 per cent say they would actually wait until the performance notably degraded - for example they stopped gripping or braking well - before they changed them.
The figures suggest millions of cars on UK roads currently have illegal tyres, and many more will become illegal before their next MOT.
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The research found that just 32 per cent of motorists regularly check the condition of their tyres and 28 per cent admit they never do.
The problem is compounded by the fact that just a quarter of UK motorists know the current legal minimum tread depth, so even if they did check, they wouldn't know what to look for.
A further eight per cent do not even know what tyre tread is.
It is known that worn tyres can have a dangerous impact on a car's driving performance.
The difference in stopping distance between tyres with 4mm or tread and tyres with the legal minimum of 1.6mm is a huge 36 per cent, in the same wet driving conditions, and equates to an additional 89ft at 70mph.
Analysis of the most recent Department for Transport figures shows there is an accident on UK roads as a result of defective tyres or brakes every seven hours.
Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton said: “These figures continue to show the direct impact the cost of living crisis is having on the safety of motorists.
"When a warning is issued for tyres it could mean that in a matter of miles the tyres could be illegal. Yet the vast majority of motorists say they wouldn’t change them right away.
"We’re seeing this in the number of vehicles being identified with unsafe tyres during their MOTs."
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “The importance of purchasing high quality tyres cannot be understated.
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"Good tread depth is essential for safe driving and facilitates effective acceleration, cornering and braking.
"We would point out to drivers who are hesitating to purchase new tyres that, financially and emotionally, the cost is much less than a fine or the worry of being the cause of an avoidable crash."