You need good tyres to drive safely. They affect the steering, braking and acceleration of your vehicle. Faulty tyres work less efficiently and don't last as long; they could also mean a heavy fine and penalty points on your licence.

The law - It's against the law to have:

Car tyres with tread worn to below 1.6mm;
A mix of radial and cross ply tyres;
Over or under-inflated tyres;
Tyres with cuts, lumps, bulges or tears;
The wrong sort of tyre fitted to a vehicle or trailer.

Checking tread depth: Most tyres have tread wear indicators, usually six or more small ribs across the bottom of the main tread grooves. When the tread surface is level with these ribs, the tyre needs to be replaced.

Checking tyre pressures: Look in your handbook or consult your garage or a tyre dealer below for the recommended pressures for your vehicle. You should check the pressure at least every two weeks, and only when the tyres are cold. Even a short trip to the local garage will warm up the tyre and raise the pressure.