Do as he says
ATS Euromaster urge you to pay closer attention to your tyres
The manager of a tyre and vehicle maintenance centre in Manchester, is urging motorists to pay closer attention to their tyres – warning that the number of illegal tyres in circulation on local roads is posing a grave risk to safety.
Paul Duff, a Multi Site Manager for ATS Euromaster, says that nearly 90 per cent of the tyres his team have replaced this year have had less than 1.6mm of tread remaining – meaning they were illegal when customers drove onto the forecourt.
“Last week a motorist came in with a vibration fault on a family car and we traced the problem to three illegal tyres. The steel cords were showing where the rubber had worn away, but when we pointed it out, she wasn’t interested in replacing them. I wish I could say it was an isolated incident, but it’s become commonplace.”
With the May half-term getaway fast approaching, Paul and his team are urging owners to spend a few minutes now, checking their tyres carefully, before making long journeys with their family.
He points out: “A lot of people don’t realise, but if you’re involved in an accident and are found to have an illegal tyre on your car then you risk your insurance policy being declared void, because your vehicle is illegal for road use.”
ATS Euromaster advises motorists to check their tyre tread depth, condition and pressures at least once a month and before any long journey. Motorists can also call into any ATS Euromaster centre for a free tyre safety check – with no obligation, and no appointment required.
Department for Transport statistics from 2013 show that illegal, defective or underinflated tyres were the most common vehicle defect contributing to accidents in Great Britain where a Police officer attended the scene.
