Drivers caught with worn tyres below the legal limit of 1.6mm face a fine of up to £2,500 and up to 12 penalty points – enough to have their licence taken away. For new drivers, the penalty could be far more severe, as two worn tyres is the equivalent of six points, enough to lose their permit.
However, there is an easy way to check tyre depth: using the border of a 20p coin, which is slightly larger than the legal limit, making it the ideal tool to help avoid the big bill.
Many motorists unaware of the trick
Nearly four in 10 (38%) of motorists didn't know about the trick, rising to 59% among younger drivers – who run the risk of losing their licence. Almost a third (30%) are unaware of the large fine they could face if caught driving with illegal tyres.
Despite this, 48% said they don't carry coins – so aren't able to do the handy check. A poll of 2,000 motorists, released during Tyre Safety Month, reveals 60% do the check only every few months or less, whereas 23% don't do it at all because they assume they'll be fine.
Halfords and Judi Love promote the 20p test
Halfords has worked with comedian Judi Love to urge Brits to keep a 20p coin in their car as a safety measure, and released a limited number of 20p keychains for those who don't have a coin in their car. To help motorists do the test, Judi presented an informative video showing drivers how to check their tread using the coin.
The comedian said: “It's a simple check that takes seconds but could save you a pretty penny. Just by carrying a 20p coin in the car and checking it every now and again, or before long drives, you can help make sure your car tyres are not only legal but also safe.
“I am not someone you’d call car-savvy, but even I can do that. Or I’ll get my daughter to do it for me.
“It takes less than 30 seconds to check all four tyres and is definitely worthwhile when you consider the safety implications, let alone the cost of the fine or even losing your license.”
Winter readiness and breakdowns
More than a quarter (27%) admitted they aren't confident they could tell if their tyres were no longer road legal, and 64% didn't know about the 1.6mm legal tread limit. The OnePoll.com study found 61% get their car winter-ready simply by just putting de-icer or an ice scraper in the vehicle.
Exactly half (50%) check their tyre pressure and 39% check their tyre's tread depth. Meanwhile, just 21% choose to book their car into a garage for a check-up. It was also found 55% have broken down at least once, with the average motorist left stranded for 76 minutes.
Karen Bellairs, chief customer officer at Halfords, added: “Getting winter-ready is about more than putting an ice scraper in the car. When roads are wet or icy, the condition of your tyres matters to the safety of every journey.
“You don’t have to be a car expert to check them. A 20p piece can help you spot when your tyre tread may be too low, giving you a chance to act before your next journey. And if you’re unsure what you’re looking for, our experts are here to help.”
