Despite repeated warnings of the dangers of driving on expired tyres, a record number of vehicles have failed their MOTs due to defective rubber.
According to new figures from the DVSA, a the number of failures currently stands a 2.15 million, a notable hike from just over 2 million a year ago – and that figure is only set to rise.
According to Autocar, in 2022 some 40million replacement tyres were sold in the UK at a combined value of £2.3 billion, and by 2030 this is expected to swell to £3.9bn due to the rise in EV sales. This, Michelin claims, is because EVs wear their tyres some 20% faster than a typical combustion-engined car.
However, the real alarming statistic is the DVSA’s claim that more than a staggering third of all tyre-related failures (36%, or over 750,000 vehicles) had been already been registered as an advisory on the previous test.
No wonder that the authorities, such as Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and TyreSafe, are calling for more stringent regulations. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), calls the figures “truly shocking and frightening”.
Commander Kyle Gordon from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) roads policing portfolio, told Fleet News: “Tyre safety is not simply about compliance, it is absolutely critical to the safety of everyone using our roads. Defective tyres can turn even a careful and competent law-abiding driver into a killer as the weakest link in a chain of causality leading to a collision”.
In 2023, 1695 people were killed and more than 139,000 were reported injured in collisions on our roads. Faulty, dangerous tyres were highlighted as a notable yet preventable catalyst in many of the reported accidents.
Stefan Hay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) told CAT: “These statistics, while disappointing, are unfortunately not surprising. NTDA members consistently report encountering tyres in dangerously poor condition, whether during routine replacements or MOT inspections. Our ongoing research continues to highlight a concerning lack of awareness among motorists regarding tyre maintenance.
“In a nationwide study conducted in late 2017, involving 1000 UK motorists, we found that only 40% regularly checked their tyres. Alarmingly, a significant number admitted to never having checked them at all, and 60% were unaware of the legal minimum tread depth.
“This is not just a matter of oversight, it’s a serious safety issue.
“The NTDA firmly believes that the current approach to MOT tyre advisories is no longer fit for purpose. We are calling for a comprehensive review and redefinition of the criteria distinguishing advisory notices from failures. Furthermore, we advocate for the introduction of mandatory follow-ups on tyre-related advisories to ensure that necessary action is taken. Tyre safety must be treated with the seriousness it deserves, not just by the tyre trade, but by regulators and motorists alike.
Verifleet, a UK fleet vehicle safety specialist and campaigner for tougher tyre laws wonders why – considering all the technology and data available – better tags can’t be kept on owners and businesses whose vehicles have been issued with certain advisories, like tyres. Veriflett’s director Richard Stowe advocates MOT advisory reminders, that instead of being left up entirely to the driver’s discretion, should have a specific timescale placed on them – not least for borderline tyres. “It’s time we treated tyre safety with the seriousness it deserves.”
PACTS, the Parliamentary Advisory Council For Transport Safety, says it’s clear that the current system isn’t fit for purpose. Jamie Hassall, its executive director, told CAT: "I was told at the point of tyre change six million tyres are below the minimum legal requirement. This is a level the police just can’t deal with so there needs to be a more people-centred approach that helps drivers stay legal. And then those that chose not to act are the ones the police should target."
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, added: “This latest data highlights the danger in viewing the MOT as anything other than a snapshot of a car’s condition at a particular point in time, especially with regard to tyres. It is vital that garages impress upon vehicle owners the need to pay close attention to the components listed as minor defects or advisories on their MOT in the period following the test. Campaigners are calling for mandatory follow up action after an advisory on tyres. If this is genuinely under consideration, then as the UK’s largest MOT tester, Kwik Fit would be more than happy to advise on how that could be implemented.”
Jane Chenery, editor of Tyre Trade News, believes that while in real world terms at the cheapest point for decades, the general cost of living is causing motorists to neglect their vehicles and particularly tyres.
That said, tyres are difficult to evaluate like-for-like as they have grown in size and performance over the years. Factor in cut throat competition and today’s market which encompasses a claimed 700+ brands, prices are now ultra competitive. A typical 5.60 x 13 inch cross-ply tyre (as fitted to the majority of 1970s family cars) cost around £6 in 1970 – that’s some £95 in today’s money. Fast forward 40 years and a typical best brand 175 x14 radial was ticketed around the £45 mark (£137). In contrast, a search on the web unearths the much fatter modern Michelin Pilot Sport 4 225/55 R17 Y equivalent on offer from under £108.
What’s more, as tyre quality has improved immensely over the years, even a budget brand at comfortably under £100 may serve many price-conscious motorists well enough – and be far cheaper than a fine. Hassall adds that with maximum fine tyres at £2500 for cars and double that for lorries, there’s a lot of latent revenue and the Government could be collecting over £5bn in fines.
Even if a they’re legal, research from Apollo tyres suggests that half of drivers purchase new replacements without knowing their performance and safety ratings. Apollo’s poll of 1000 drivers reveals that only 16% of retailers were genned up on the subject never mind the importance of buying the correct tyres. This is the lowest level in Europe where the average is 34% says Tyre Trade News. And yet, the survey found that some 40% of motorists would dearly love this kind of information at the time of purchase as it would influence their choice. Apollo says the keenest drivers are between 18-24 with interest dropping by half (26%) by the time they’ve reached 65 years of age.
Go to comments