Infographics

Last updated: January 15, 2026

Statistics are a valuable resource in raising tyre safety awareness. TyreSafe compiles key tyre-related information into infographics which you can see below

All of the following assets can be downloaded from our resources section.

TyreSafety Case for Action

  • Over 6 million tyres in the UK have illegal tread each year, which could lead to a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre and three penalty points.
  • Over 2 million MOT failures occur each year due to tyre defects, with one million classified as dangerous. Tyres are the primary cause of MOT failures in the first seven years of a vehicle’s life.
  • 190 people killed or seriously injured in collisions related to defective tyres in 2023 (up 29% on 2022). Shockingly, this figure is on par with mobile phone-related incidents.

Sources: 1. TyreSafe 2023 Tread Depth Survey.    2. DVSA.    3. DFT – Reported Road Casualties GB Report September 2024.

TyreSafety Case for Action

  • 1 in 5 vehicle breakdowns on motorways and A roads result from tyre defects. More than 51,500 tyre-related breakdowns in 2023 (up 14% on 2022).
  • 75% of tyre defects were due to lack of maintenance in FATAL incidents where car tyres were a causal factor and 61% in all other vehicles.
  • 5,594 convictions for defective tyres in 2024. 873 (13%) fewer than 2019. 5-year average 6,375.

Sources: 4. National Highways.    5. National Highways Fatals database (2014 to 2022), verified by Transport Research Laboratory.    6. Criminal Justice System Statistics publication: Prosecutions and Convictions 2017-2024.

TyreSafety Case for Action

  • £1 billion worth of fuel is wasted in the UK annually due to underinflated tyres. This accounts for more than 50% of the tyres on the road and doesn’t even consider excessive wear and the premature requirement to replace them.

 

Sources: 7. TyreSafe 2019 using DfT, DVSA and OEM fuel consumption data.

Tread Depth Survey (at Point of Replacement) 2023

  1. Data collected over 12 months
  2. 428 Outlets participated
  3.  549,558 tyres examined (car and LCV)
  4. 17.1% found to have illegal tread
  5. 40.4% with borderline tread
  6. 42.5% over 2mm tread remaining
  7. Potentially almost 1 in 4 vehicles have an illegal tyre
  8.  Potentially 6.1m illegal tyres per annum
Tread depth survey data 27% illegal when replaed 10 million illegal on UK roads

Tread Depth Survey (as Point of Replacement) 2016

  1. Over 340,000 tyres surveyed at the point of replacement.
  2. Over 800 tyre outlets participated.
  3. 0.4mm. The difference between illegal and borderline which is half the thickness of a bank card.
  4. 27.3% of tyres were illegal = over 10 million illegal tyres
  5. 70.4%  of tyres has a tread depth of 2 mm or below = nearly 24 million tyres.
  6. 1 in 4 vehicles could have illegal tyres this year.
  7. 1. Average tyre per vehicle changed every year.
  8. 159 people killed or seriously injured from incidents involving defective tyres.
  9. 37,500,000 cars and vans on Britain’s roads.
Dangers of part worn tyres false economy 93% sold illegally 63% unsafe

Part Worn Tyres. Hidden Dangers.

  1. 94% of part worn tyres inspected by TyreSafe were being sold illegally.
  2. Part worn dealers investigated: 278
  3. Part worn dealers non-compliant with legal regulations: 261. 93% non-compliant
  4. Over 63% of part worn tyres inspected by TyreSafe were unsafe to return to the roads.
  5. 22%. The number of non-compliant tyres aged 10 years or older.
  6. 29 years. The oldest tyre found during our inspections.
  7. New Tyre. 8mm of tread – no faults. £5.32 Average cost per mm of useable tread.
  8. Part Worn Tyre. Unknown tread depth – unknown faults. £6.33 Avergae cost per mm of useable tread.
  9. 159 killed or seriously injured from defective tyre-related accidents.

Van Tyre Safety Transcript

Did You Know?

Van sales have surged nearly 60% since 2000, with over 4 million vans on UK roads, contributing £56 billion in wages. Britain runs on tyres.

Overloading is risky and common, leading to fines and prohibitions. It makes vans unstable and damages tyres, causing potential failures.

Check your van’s weight and tyre load index in the handbook. Ensure proper tyre pressure to enhance safety, save fuel, and reduce emissions.

Regularly inspect tyres for damage and maintain tread depth above 1.6mm. Follow tyre safety checks to keep you and your van safe. Britain works on tyres.

Driving in the Rain

  1. 517.6 mm. Amount of rainfall in the UK during winter 2013, making it the wettest winter since records began in 1910.
  2. 7 seconds. Typical time taken for a car’s tyres to clear enough water to fill a bucket in wet weather.
  3. October 12th – Wettest day in 2013 with 73mm of rainfall
  4. 168. Number of days in 2013 where rainfall fell in London
  5. Braking distance on wet road travelling at 50mph to rest
    1. New tyre 8mm tread depth. 25.9m
    2. Worn tyre 1.6mm tread depth. 37.8m
  6. Number of road casualties in the UK in 2012 caused by illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres – 1238
  7. 205/55R16 The most common size of tyre in the UK
  8. 3 points can be added to your licence for each illegal tyre
  9. 170 average number of convictions at magistrates court in England and Wales each week in 2012 for defective tyres
  10. £2500 – The maximum possible fine for each tyre if convicted for driving with illegal tyres
  11. 20p coin used to check tyres have legal tread depth
  12. 1.6mm legal minimum tread depth for tyres in the UK
  13. 1. Check your tyres at least once each month

Tyre Pressure Facts

  1. Correct pressure – 100% contact with the road
  2. Underinflated – 50% less contact with the road
  3. 3% more fuel used when pressure is 6psi below recommended inflation
  4. 56.8% of car tyres in the UK are at least 4pdi below recommended pressures
  5. 20% below recommended pressure tyres are dangerous to use
  6. Driving with low pressures causes
  7. Reduced vehicle control
  8. 10% reduced tyre life
  9. Increased fuel costs
Back To Top