IN the first week of Tyre Safety Month in October, police officers found 13 tyre related offences on vehicles they stopped and checked in operations across Warwickshire.
One driver received a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for having a tyre so worn that cord was exposed, another received a TOR for having a crack in the side wall of a tyre.
Eight drivers received TORs for not having sufficient tread on their tyres – below 1.6mm. One of these drivers had three tyres below the legal limit.
A further three received TORs for having under inflated tyres – one driver hasd only had 7psi in his tyre so it was almost completely flat.
Officers said it could be an expensive trip for some drivers as each bald or defective tyre carries a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points.
Even though the tread depth of 1.6mm is the legal minimum, it is recommended tyres are replaced once the tread is below 3mm as stopping distances increase dramatically for cars below this tread depth, particularly in the wet.
