The only part of a vehicle in contact with the road surface, tyres play a critical role in road safety. Acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all rely on the tyres’ relatively small contact area with the road surface so their correct selection, care and maintenance is essential.

However, each year in the UK, more than 1200 road casualties are caused by an accident where illegal defective or under-inflated tyres are a contributory factor.

To maximise road safety and prolong tyre life, a tyre’s pressure, tread depth and general condition should be checked regularly.

When replacing tyres, fitting new tyres is the safest option. However, legislation does exist which permits the sale of part worn tyres, subject to them meeting a number of criteria.

The sale of part worn tyres that do not meet these legal requirements is not only a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection Act, but also poses a serious safety risk to drivers, their passengers and other road users.