Tyres
Tyre Condition
Your tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road — roughly the size of a shoe sole per tyre. Their condition is crucial to safety.
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Check sidewalls for cuts, cracks, or bulges.
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Ensure tread depth meets the legal minimum: 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the full circumference.
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It’s safer to replace tyres before they reach this limit.
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Have wheel alignment, balance, suspension, and brakes checked regularly — uneven wear may indicate a fault.
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Remove stones, glass, or debris from the tread.
Penalties for faulty tyres include fines, licence endorsements, and possible disqualification.
Reducing Tyre Wear
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Check pressures regularly (at least once a week).
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Avoid potholes and rough surfaces — slow down if unavoidable.
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Do not hit or scrape kerbs while parking; this can cause sidewall damage or affect wheel alignment.
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Drive smoothly — harsh braking, fast cornering, and high speeds increase wear.
Tyre Pressure
You can’t accurately judge pressure by sight alone.
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Check pressures when tyres are cold.
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Don’t forget the spare tyre and replace valve caps after checking.
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Refer to your vehicle handbook for correct pressures, which may vary depending on load or speed.
Under-inflated tyres:
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Increase fuel consumption.
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Lengthen stopping distances.
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Cause excessive edge wear.
Over-inflated tyres:
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Reduce grip and stability.
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Increase the risk of skidding.
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Cause centre tread wear.