Yahoo Finance Drivers are ‘risking lives’ by forgoing new tyres amid rising costs
Drivers are putting off replacing their tyres until they are in “critical” condition as squeezed consumers are forced to cut costs, Halfords has warned.
The cycling and motoring retailer said a combination of people driving less post-Covid and cost-of-living pressures had “temporarily extended the life of tyres and forced consumers to delay replacing until critical”.
How long a tyre lasts depends on numerous factors including speed, driving style, and the weight of the car and its load. Drivers can generally get around 20,000 miles out of front tyres and 40,000 from back tyres before they need to be changed, according to the AA.
However, the AA warned people risked damaging their vehicles, or, in worst case scenarios, endangering themselves and other drivers, if tyres are left on cars for too long.
Nick Powell of the AA, said: “Tyres are one of the most common causes of car breakdowns the AA attends, if they are in poor condition it’s only a matter of time before you see a blowout on a motorway in the hot weather or a hefty bill after striking a pothole.”
Graham Stapleton, chief executive at Halfords, said: [It’s] obviously very dangerous because you’ve got cars, they’re driving around with tires that could burst or puncture very much more easily, or in wet weather slip off the road or skid.
“Why has it happened? The road quality in the UK has just got worse and worse, over the last few years as the government’s purse strings have tightened, potholes everywhere, it wears tires much faster. And then secondly, customers’ purse strings have tightened. And they are therefore having to think more carefully about what they spend money on. And sometimes deferring a tire purchase is what they have to look at.”
The risks go beyond breakdowns and damage to vehicles. Worn and defective tyres are one of the leading causes of road accidents and deaths in the UK. They caused 491 casualties and 12 deaths in 2021, according to official figures.
Mr Powell added: “Although the cost of living is putting pressure on everyone’s budgets, checking the tread depth, pressure and general condition of your tyres takes minutes and can help to prevent issues and indeed risk to life further down the line.”
The law requires that tyres on cars must be “fit for purpose”, which means it is illegal to drive with them if they have any lumps, bumps, or bulges, which can indicate structural damage; any cuts or tears bigger than 25mm or 10pc of the width of the tyre; or any part of the ply or cord exposed.
They must also be inflated to the right pressure, and should aim to be replaced before the tread wears down to 2mm.
Halfords said on Wednesday that pre-tax profits slumped by 55pc to £44m in the year to March 31 as it was hit by the rising cost of goods and shipping.
It also faced a hit to the sales of big ticket items, such as bikes, as customers reined in their spending.
