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Fast-fitters Kwik Fit has urged fleets to follow the lead of the emergency services and change their tyres well before they reach the minimum tread depth in order to improve road safety.
According to results of a Freedom of Information request made by Kwik Fit, 73% of the UK's police, fire and ambulance services change tyres at a tread between 2.6 and 3.0mm.
The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre.
Of the 95 forcesunits that responded to the FoI request, 73% have a formal tyre-change policy in place, while the remaining third have an accepted practice on when to switch rubber.
"Our research has shown that the emergency services uniformly change their vehicle tyres at a much earlier point than the legal limit as a tyre's performance starts to deteriorate well before it becomes illegal. When on a 'blue light' call our emergency services cannot compromise on safety, but we don't think any other motorist should either, whether it's a motorway run or just a trip to the shops," said Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit.
Previous research by the fast-fitter found that 12% of UK motorists never bother to check tyre tread depth on a regular basis and research from tyre maintenance charity TyreSafe claimed that at present one in 20 vehicles fails its first MOT test due to tyre tyre defects.
"The emergency services have the highest standards when it comes to safety and this is something all motorists should be trying to replicate. Checking tyre tread depth is often forgotten by motorists, yet it has a vital role in safety as our tyres are the only thing in contact with the road," Griggs added.
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