Motorists waiting longer to replace illegal tires

ERJ staff report (LMH)

London – More drivers are waiting until their tires are illegal before replacing them, according to data from UK tire fitting centre Micheldever Tyre Services, reports Auto Express.

Between March 2012 and 2013, 57 percent of the almost 40 000 tires removed by Micheldever had less than 1.6 mm of tread. In 2008, that figure was only 15 percent, suggesting that motorists are trying to save money by waiting longer before fitting new tires, Auto Express said.

In the UK, a tire must have a minimum of 1.6 mm of tread in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width. Drivers with illegal tires face fines and penalty points per each illegal tire. Auto Express also noted that a tire’s braking performance significantly drops when there is less than 3 mm remaining, citing its own testing that found a car with barely legal tires took 30-44 m longer to stop from 70 mph then when running tires with 3 mm deep tread.

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Article from Micheldever