This October, Tyre Safety Month returns for its 20th year, led by TyreSafe, the UK’s only charity dedicated to tyre safety.
The 2025 theme, “Under Pressure”, highlights how stress and financial worries are causing drivers to skip essential tyre checks, just when they are needed most.
October is the UK’s wettest month, when stopping distances are longest and tyre performance can mean the difference between a safe journey and a serious accident.
For independent garages, it’s a chance to remind customers that tyres aren’t just rubber, they’re the first line of defence on the road.
October is statistically the UK’s wettest month, when longer stopping distances pose the greatest danger. Yet tyre-related incidents remain a persistent and under-reported problem.
The risks
Over 2 million vehicles fail their MOTs annually because of tyre defects
At motorway speeds, worn tyres have seven times more impact on stopping distances in the wet than alcohol.
A single worn tyre can add 27 metres to stopping distances.
Even at 50mph, tyres on the legal limit add almost 7 metres to braking distance compared with new tyres.
It’s not just safety at stake. Underinflated tyres are wasting £1 billion in fuel every year.
On average, 152 people are killed or seriously injured each year in crashes caused by defective tyres, a figure on par with collisions linked to mobile phone use.
In 2024, the number climbed to 172, nine more than the five-year average, according to Department for Transport data.
The majority of fatal crashes involving defective tyres are the result of basic lack of maintenance, research by National Highways shows.
MOT records reveal that more than two million vehicles fail annually due to tyre defects, with one million tyres deemed dangerous.
Worryingly, over a third of vehicles that failed on tyres last year had already received advisory notices that were ignored.
The performance risks are stark. At motorway speeds, worn tyres have seven times more impact on stopping distances in the wet than alcohol, according to research from Cardiff University and Halfords.
A survey conducted ahead of the campaign revealed that 35 per cent of drivers admit stress has affected their concentration while driving, with one in five reporting a near miss as a result.
Eighty-six per cent feel stressed or overwhelmed during the week, and younger drivers and students are the most likely to put off tyre checks.
Fewer than half of motorists check tyre pressures monthly as recommended, with many waiting for a warning light or simply assuming their tyres are fine.
Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said the message is clear: “Casualties linked to illegal or poorly maintained tyres are rising. Stress and financial pressure are leading people to skip even the simplest of tyre checks.
“But with October bringing wet roads and longer stopping distances, now is the most important time to act. Tyres shouldn’t be another source of stress, they should be your first line of defence.”
To spread that message, TyreSafe’s network of more than 220 supporters will be running events and campaigns throughout October.
Free resources are available to help promote the campaign including include posters, graphics and videos tailored to different types of vehicles, as well as short social clips aimed at younger drivers. Local tyre safety check days will also be taking place.
