PRESS RELEASE: Continental
Written: Tuesday 24th March, 2009
TYRED OUT
NEWS COPY - WITH PICTURES
More than 3.5 million Brits are driving on illegal tyres - with women proving to be worse offenders than men, research revealed yesterday (Mon).
One in ten drivers currently has tyres below the legal 1.6mm minimum tread depth which are either balding - or completely bald.
It also emerged that seven out of ten have no idea what the minimum tread depth is, four out of ten never check their tyre pressure and one in three can't even change a wheel.
The study of 4,000 motorists was carried out by Continental Tyres to launch their Three Minute Max campaign to encourage drivers to check their tread.
Tim Bailey, head of safety for Continental, said: ''It takes very little time to check the safety of your tyres. They're often neglected or people simply forget to check them because of the busy lives they lead.
''Nevertheless, tyres that are properly maintained can massively improve car handling quality and improve safety.
''One in five drivers have suffered a blow-out and three-quarters of us understand that poor tyre tread causes accidents in the wet, yet we still do not recognise the risks we take by not checking and replacing tyres more regularly.
''It takes less than three minutes to check tyre tread depth and tyre pressure. Not only will it keep you legal and safe, but motoring costs are reduced if tyres are maintained and properly inflated.''
The study found seven out of ten drivers were clueless about the 1.6mm minimum legal limit of tyre tread.
A third of drivers don't even have a jack or spare wheel in their car if they needed it, according to the nationwide study.
It also emerged two thirds of women rely on their partner to check the safety of their car and tyres.
The survey also revealed four in ten would consider skimping on tyre quality to save money and a quarter say the credit crunch has meant they've held off buying new tyres.
A fifth of respondents suspect they're driving on tyres probably below the minimum tread depth but haven't done anything about it.
And eight in ten reckon there isn't enough information out there on the minimum tread depth and issues of road safety.
A third of drivers admitted they weren't aware of tyre issues and road safety.
And worryingly the majority are prompted to change their tyres because of failing an MOT.
Nearly 80 per cent have felt the performance of their car deteriorate.
A massive 93 per cent admit men are better at car maintenance, and 60 per cent don't know how to change a wheel.
Tim Bailey added: ''Our website www.3minmax.com can educate drivers on how to perform simple tyre checks and other guidance on safe motoring.
''One point six millimetres is the legal limit, however, extensive testing has shown that the effectiveness of tyres drops significantly after three millimetres.
''For instance, when braking from seventy miles per hour in wet weather a car with one point six millimetres of tyre tread will still be travelling at fifty miles when the same car with three millimetres tread will have already stopped.''
ENDS
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com
