Safer driving starts with safer tyres
Regular tyre checks help you stay safe, enhance performance, improve fuel efficiency and avoid unnecessary costs.
How worn tyres can affect your car
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Your car insurance could be invalid if you’re driving with illegal tyres.
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You could face a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 points on your licence per illegal tyre.
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Worn or damaged tyres can affect your grip, braking and control on the road.
Learn more about tyre safety in our online hub, with helpful advice on checking your tyres, spotting signs of wear and keeping your car safe and road ready.
Essential tyre checks
To help drivers stay on top of tyre safety, we've teamed up with TyreSafe to highlight the A.C.T. check, a simple way to remember the three key areas to inspect.
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Air pressure
Uninflated or overinflated tyres can affect handling, so having the right tyre pressure is essential. -
Condition
Look out for any cuts or cracks in your tyres, as well as glass or nails that could become embedded in the rubber. -
Tread depth
Make sure your tread depth is above the legal limit of 1.6mm to ensure good grip.
Benefits of regularly checking your tyres
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Help keep you and others safe on the road
Tyres with the correct tread depth and pressure provide better grip, braking and handling, helping you stay in control and reducing the risk of accidents.
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Keeping your insurance valid
Most insurance policies require your vehicle to be roadworthy at the time of an incident. Driving with illegal tyres could affect the validity of your cover.
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Avoid fines and penalty points
Driving with illegal tyres could result in a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre.
Did you know?
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An estimated 6.1 million illegal tyres are currently being used on Britain's roads, with around 1 in 4 vehicles affected.
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Tyre defects are responsible for more than 2 million MOT failures every year.
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On average, defective tyres contribute to the death or serious injury of 159 people annually.
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More than half of UK tyres are either illegal or borderline legal when they're finally replaced.
Signs your tyres are damaged
Low tread depth
Tyre tread helps maintain grip, especially in wet conditions. While the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, we recommend a replacement once tread falls below 3mm to help maintain performance and stopping ability.
Cracks in the sidewall
Over time, exposure to sunlight, weather and everyday driving can cause the rubber in your tyres to deteriorate. Small cracks in the sidewall can be an early sign that a tyre may need replacing.
Air loss
If you're topping up your tyre pressure more often than usual, it could indicate a slow puncture, damaged valve or another issue that should be checked.
Excessive vibration
If you notice increased vibration through the steering wheel or vehicle, it may be a sign of tyre damage, uneven wear or another issue affecting performance.
Tyre age
Tyres naturally age, even if they aren't driven frequently. As a general guide, it's worth having tyres checked regularly once they're more than five years old.
Bulges
Bulges or swelling in the tyre sidewall can indicate internal damage. These weakened areas can increase the risk of tyre failure and should be inspected as soon as possible.
Every year, dangerous tyres lead to around 5,000 convictions,
900 casualties, and 160 deaths or
serious injuries.
Stopping distance on a wet road from 50mph to 0mph
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Your car insurance could be invalid if you’re driving with illegal tyres.
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You could face a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 points on your licence per illegal tyre.
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Worn or damaged tyres can affect your grip, braking and control on the road.
Your car insurance could be invalid if your tyres are worn beyond the legal limit.
Plus, you face fines of up to £2,500 and 3 points on your licence per illegal tyre.
Stopping distances based on independent tests carried out by Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA). Car lengths based on average of 4 meters.
Helpful guides for driving with safe tyres
Tyres Services
Tyre FAQs
At Halfords, we review our tyre prices compared to our competitors up to three times a week to ensure you’re getting the best value for money. TyreSafe have also awarded Halfords the Outstanding Achievement of the Year award for industry-leading motoring contributions, so you know you can trust us to keep your tyres safely on the road.
You can also get your tyres changed at work or home with our mobile tyre fitting service. Plus, you’ll have extra peace of mind knowing our technicians environmentally dispose of all used tyres. Shop tyres available for your vehicle today.
Every car is different, and you’ll find the correct tyre pressure in your owner’s manual or printed on the sill inside the driver’s door.
You can use a Halfords tyre pressure kit to measure your pressure. To get an even reading, you need to ensure that your vehicle is on a flat surface and that your car tyres are cold, as this will produce more accurate results.
You should check your tyre pressure and tread every few weeks to ensure your tyres are sufficiently inflated and still safe to drive on. Correct tyre pressure and tread are important for several key reasons:
- Illegal – driving with under-inflated tyres/low tread depth is illegal and can result in costly fines.
- Safety - poor tyre pressure/tread depth can lead to a higher risk of over/understeering, increased braking distances and aquaplaning.
- Cost reduction - tyres with incorrect pressure and worn tread will have a reduced life span and increased fuel consumption.
For more information, take a look at our guides on how to check and inflate car tyres and how to choose the best tyres for your vehicle.
You can book a FREE tyre check at your local Halfords garage, where we’ll make sure your tyres are safe and road-worthy to give you peace of mind on your journeys.
It includes a check of your tyre pressure, tread depth, and the visual appearance of your tyres, to make sure there’s no unusual lumps or sidewall damage. If there is a problem, we’ll advise you on what to do next.
The legal tyre tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm.
However, it is recommended that you should change your tyres once down to below 3mm.
Independent research by the Motoring Industry Research Association (MIRA) has shown that tyres with 3mm of tread have an average 25% better performance than those at 1.6mm. That represents an extra 8 metres of stopping distance in wet conditions!
Tyres are considered illegal if the tread depth is below 1.6mm.
Driving with tyres that are under the legal minimum is not only dangerous but can also result in you losing your licence. You can receive 3 points and a £2,500 fine per illegal tyre. You also risk invalidating your insurance if you’re in an accident with illegal tyres.
Checking your tyres' tread depth is one of the simplest ways to help keep your vehicle safe on the road. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, so it's important to check your tyres regularly and replace them before they become worn.
A quick way to check your tread at home is with the 20p test. Insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If the outer band of the coin is hidden, your tread is above the legal limit. If you can see the outer band, your tyre may be below the legal minimum and should be checked as soon as possible.
Not sure if your tyres are road-ready? Book a free tyre check at your local Halfords, and our experts will inspect them for you.