The survey of 4,000 drivers showed one in 10 to have tyres below the legal 1.6mm minimum tread depth and 70% of drivers are unaware that 1.6mm is indeed the minimum depth permitted.
Two thirds of women, the Conti survey noted, rely upon their partner to check the safety of their vehicle’s tyres. This probably isn’t a sterling idea, given that four out of 10 motorists never actually check their tyre pressure and a third can’t actually change a wheel.
“It takes very little time to check,” commented Continental’s Tim Bailey. “Yet we still do not recognise the risks we take by not checking.” (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)