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Almost a quarter of all cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one illegal or badly worn tyre in need of replacement says the Tyre Industry Council - Britain's foremost tyre safety organisation. This information has been gained by the TIC from roadside tyre checks in the past 12 months in the UK undertaken by the police and supported by the Council.

Defective or badly worn tyres are a contributory factor in many vehicle collisions, particularly in the wet, and as the summer holiday period gets into its stride the Tyre Industry Council is advising motorists to check their tyre for condition before travelling to ensure a trouble free drive to their holiday destination.

In particular, when preparing for the holidays motorists should remember that their vehicles may be carrying a heavier than usual load often in warm conditions and travelling much longer distances than usual.

The Tyre Industry Council is recommending motorists undertake a simple 5 minute tyre check to ensure that their tyres are safe before they start their journey:

1. Check and adjust if necessary, the tyre pressure in each tyre including the spare as recommended in the manufacturer’s handbook.
2. Clean dirt from around valves and fit dust caps all round
3. Remove stones and other foreign object from the tread
4. Check that tyres have at least 1.6mm of tread across three quarters of the width of the tyre. The TIC recommends that motorists consider changing tyres when the tread falls below 3mm
5. Check for uneven tyre wear which might mean steering misalignment or out of balance wheels.
6. Check tyres for cuts and bulges which could render the tyre defective and potentially dangerous.
7. The TIC recommends that if tyres need changing they should be replaced in two's – preferably on the rear - or all four.

Motorists uncomfortable checking their own tyres can take advantage of a free tyre check offered by most reputable tyre retailers who will also provide tyre safety advice and information.