Drivers warned to make urgent check on their car or risk £10,000 in fines

16 May 2024 , 16:11

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A 20p coin can potentially help save you save thousands (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A motoring expert has urged drivers to use a 20p coin to check their tyre tread depth.

It comes with a warning that drivers could face a £2,500 fine and three-point license penalty per tyre - totalling a whopping £10,000 and 12 points if all four tyres are proven illegal. This requirement is set under the Road Traffic Act, which mandates that drivers must maintain a minimum of 1.6 mm tread around the central three-quarters of tyre breadth, and across its entire outer circumference.

Tim Alcock of LeaseCar.uk said: "It's simple to check if your tyres are suitable for driving at home with the simple 20p hack. By placing the coin in the grooves of the tyre, the writing on the 20p should not be visible. However, if you can see the engraved 'twenty pence,' then the tyres should be taken to the garage immediately to get a professional check.

"You should also remember to check the spare tyre as well in case these ever need to be used as they're not checked as part of a standard MOT." Alcock underscored the danger of driving with less-than-required tread depth leads to higher chances of aquaplaning due to lessened grip, reports the Express.

Moreover, drivers may find themselves out of pocket, as low tyre pressure increases fuel consumption. Interestingly, only 15 per cent of road users check their tyre pressures weekly, according to a poll by Apollo Tyres involving 1,000 motorists.

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Experts at CarShop have highlighted it as a key key issue for motorists, explaining: "Research shows that if tyres are under-inflated can decrease a car's fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent, making the average tank of fuel do 36 miles per gallon."

Rom Preston-Ellis