Road safety charity TyreSafe has launched a new campaign warning of the dangers of riding on illegal tyres, just as harsh autumnal weather made it even more imperative than ever that every bikers’ tyres are in great shape.

Poorly inflated tyres or ones without sufficient tread can lead to skids and loss of control during wet weather rides, while cracks or bulges in the rubber can lead to catastrophic blow-outs when tyres are put under pressure on longer, faster rides.

TyreSafe’s campaign focused on its ACT message – make sure the Air pressure, Condition and Tread on our tyres is legal and will keep us safe when we are riding.

• Air pressure – Maintaining the correct tyre pressure for grip, stability, and control.
• Condition – Looking for cracks, embedded objects, or other signs of damage.
• Tread – Ensuring tyres have legal and safe tread depth for effective braking and handling.

The campaign coincided with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Operation Spotlight – a nationwide road safety operation targeting young motorists that put tyre safety as one of its main focuses.

The campaign also highlighted a worrying knowledge gap among 17-24 year olds, who did not realise that they can be held legally responsible for the condition of the tyres on any vehicle they drive – even if they don’t own it.

It also reminded young riders that illegal tyres can lead to three penalty points on our licence per tyre, and fines of up to £2,000 a tyre.

Tyresafe has previously worked with the National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) to highlight the important role a biker’s tyres play in keeping them safe and in control.

The NYRF is a collective of road safety professionals from across the UK, bringing expertise from local authority road safety teams, Safer Roads Partnerships, the National Motorcycle Council (NMC), the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), police forces, fire and rescue services, and the DVSA.

The forum specifically focuses on young riders aged 16 to 24 who operate powered two-wheelers up to 125cc – one of the most vulnerable groups on UK roads.

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the National Young Rider Forum, said:

“Young riders are one of the most at-risk groups on UK roads, and it’s crucial that we reach them with safety messaging that resonates.

“We’re making sure these riders have the essential knowledge to check their tyres, understand their importance, and stay safe on two wheels. This campaign is about giving them the best start possible as responsible road users.”

As a reminder:

Check tyres for bulges, cuts and scrapes. If there is a deep gouge in the rubber, or a bulge, replace them. It is a sign the tyre may fail any time soon.

It is also important to check the tyre tread. Tread ensures a tyre stays in contact with the road during wet conditions. We need to know the minimum legal limit for our size of motorcycle.

• The legal limit of tyre tread depth in the UK for motorcycles over 50cc is 1mm across ¾ of the width of the tread pattern and with visible tread on the remaining ¼.
• For motorcycles up to 50cc the law requires that all the grooves of the original tread pattern must be clearly visible.

To check your tread, check out the tyre wear indicators. These are included in the tyre design, inside the treads. They give a good indication of how worn your tyre is. When the wear is close to the wear indicators, it means that the tyre needs to be changed.

They can be hard to spot at first, so manufacturers usually carve markers into the tread. Michelin tyres, for example, have little 'Michelin Man' markings on the rubber. They are there to indicate the location of wear indicators.

Have a look at your tyres now and see if you can spot the tyre wear indicators. If you can't, Google the type of tyre and ask for more information on where they can be found.

Investing in your own tyre depth gauge is a good idea, too.

Check the tyre pressure, too. Your bike handbook will tell you what the pressure is meant to be. Check and top up regularly.