Check your tyres and insurance in 'wet' October

Posted :05-10-2005

British motorists are risking their lives by driving on wet roads with inadequate tyre tread on their cars, according to road safety organisation Roadsafe.

Research has revealed at least one in ten UK motorists are driving without the legal depth limit on their tyres and with 75,000 road accidents a year attributed to bad weather, Roadsafe warn drivers to make regular checks before they set out.

October is officially the wettest month of the year – a time when drivers should be even more careful on the roads. However, even though the legal depth limit for car tyres is 1.6mm, Roadside is encouraging drivers to change their tyres when they get to 3mm.

"Braking performance significantly deteriorates in wet conditions when tyre tread depth drops below 3mm," warns Roadside's chairman, Adrian Walsh.

Simon Aldworth, senior engineer at the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) agrees, claiming: "There has been a long-standing belief within the motoring industry that wet weather tyre performance deteriorates more rapidly as the tread depth wears away.

"A comprehensive test of different vehicles and tyre tread depths now scientifically confirms these claims."

Mr Walsh added: "With 300,000 road accidents taking place every year and a climate which is now much more susceptible to heavy rain, there is the need to take action.

"If motorists replaced their tyres sooner stopping distances would improve, the number of accidents would be reduced and lives would be saved."

Changing tyres can be an expensive yet essential cost, but motorists can save money over the winter by shopping around for cheaper car insurance deals.

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