Drivers who neglect to replace their balding tyres are not only putting themselves at an increased risk of accident.
And in such situations, vehicle owners may need to rely on their
car insurance to help cover the cost of any repairs.
New figures from the National Tyre Distributors Association indicate that of the nearly 60,000 vehicles inspected during January of this year, some 7,000 were fitted with at least one illegal tyre.
Therefore, there could be up to 3.6 million cars on UK roads that are being driven with dangerous - and potentially lethal - tyres, the organisation claims.
Rob Beddis, chairman of TyreSafe, said: "More drivers are letting their tyres run below the legal tread depth before they replace them as they feel the financial pinch. This is a worrying trend which sadly may result in more accidents and road deaths."
This is because a loss of grip and longer stopping distances are associated with illegal tyres, the organisation notes.
TyreSafe offers a number of tips to help drivers ensure their tyres remain safe and perform optimally. These include checking pressure at least once a month and before any long journey, measuring tread depth and giving the tyres a visual inspection for any cuts or bulges.
Drivers may find that a low-cost car insurance policy from
InsureandGo gives them enough spare cash to be able to invest in a new set of tyres.
