Motorists 'speeding' without even realising it because of state of their tyres

28 October 2023 , 21:59

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Worn tyres pose similar dangers to speeding, according to new analysis (Image: Getty Images)

One in seven motorists are "speeding" without even realising it because of the state of their tyres, according to new research.

The new analysis, carried out by road safety experts, investigated the impact of worn tyres on stopping distances and showed they pose similar dangers to speeding. It found that in winter road conditions, a vehicle travelling at 60mph with tyres at the legal limit of 1.6mm has the same stopping distance as a vehicle travelling at 68mph with tyres in "good" condition.

The findings are part of a study by Halfords and the Director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff University. Data from Halfords suggests that currently, one in seven cars on UK roads - 14 per cent or over 5 million vehicles - have illegal or dangerously worn tyres.

This is based on the number of vehicles which receive tyre advisories warnings when checked into Halfords garages, showing their tyres are illegal, or soon will be, and urgently need replacing. The new analysis on stopping distances and speed by Professor Peter Wells is based on tyres at the legal limit of 1.6mm - so still technically road-legal.

The seven per cent of all vehicles inspected that already have illegally worn tyres will have even worse stopping distances. Prof Wells found the impact of worn tyres on braking distances increased significantly with greater speeds.

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Whilst a vehicle travelling at 30mph with worn tyres is effectively travelling at 34mph, a car doing 70mph with the same tyres is effectively moving at 80mph, based on stopping distance. This means a car with worn tyres on a motorway and doing 70mph would effectively be speeding by 10mph.

Experts say the impact of tyres on safety should not be underestimated as they are the only thing connecting a vehicle to the road. Indeed, 60 per cent of dangerous defects identified at MOTs are down to tyres. Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton said: "This research shows if you have worn tyres, even if you drive to the speed limit, you're effectively speeding. Worn tyres take longer to stop, and that could be the difference between a serious accident, or a near miss.

"We quite rightly see regular safety campaigns around drink driving, speeding, and the use of mobile phones whilst driving, and all are potentially very dangerous. But the importance of having safe tyres continues to be overlooked as a serious safety issue impacting every road user.

"It sounds simple, but your tyres are the only thing connecting your car - and therefore passengers - to the road. That is why Tyre Safety Month is so important for getting this important safety message across and highlighting that more should be done to show road users that they might be unknowingly putting themselves in danger."

To highlight the impact of worn tyres on braking distance and its equivalence to inadvertent speeding, the below table illustrates what speed limits should be adjusted to for the one in seven cars which have worn tyres:

Speed limit / Effective speed if tyres are worn / What the speed limit should be for those with worn tyres

20 mph / 22 mph / 18 mph

30 mph / 34 mph / 27 mph

40 mph / 45 mph / 35 mph

50 mph / 57 mph / 44 mph