And with winter now upon us, the Road Safety Authority and gardaí are encouraging drivers not to leave it until the NCT to have tyres checked, but to inspect them more often to ensure optimum safety.
The RSA said an analysis of coroner data from 2015–2020 found that 13pc of driver fatalities where vehicle condition was recorded had a defect related to tyres.
Tyre about to burst
“The NCT is a basic check. It’s the minimum required under the law for your tyre. Every day we see bulges, wear, and tyre thread changes throughout the surface of the tyre that may not be seen unless you go and look for it,” said Mark Synnott, Managing Director of the National Car Testing Service.
Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority, said winter means extreme weather conditions which are very unpredictable.
“It’s really important that you’ve got good tread in your tyres to stay safe over the winter months. If you don’t know what the rules are with tyre tread depth and condition then call into your local ITIA (Irish Tyre Industry Association) tyre agent, and get the tires checked,” he said.
The Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána, the National Car Testing Service, and the (ITIA) launched Tyre Safety Day on Monday, urging motorists to take greater responsibility for the condition of their tyres.
The initiative, which marks the start of Irish Road Safety Week, highlights the risks of neglecting tyre maintenance, especially as we approach the winter months when wet and slippery conditions make tyre grip and braking distances even more critical.
Figures from the last 12 months show that more than 43,000 vehicles were recorded as having dangerously low tread depths of less than 1.6mm.
Nearly fully bald tyre
An Garda Síochána has issued more than 1,700 fixed charge notices for tyre offences this year to date.
Inspector Ross O Doherty of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said that often, gardaí encounter vehicles on the road fitted with tyres that fall below acceptable legal and safety standards, posing risks not only to the driver but to all road users.
“We encourage drivers to make tyre checks a regular habit – looking out for signs of wear, damage, or low tread depth – and to replace tyres when necessary. This simple step can make a significant difference in preventing accidents and ensuring safer journeys,” he said.
Sue O’Neill, CEO of the ITIA, said the group is inviting all motorists to avail of a free tyre pressure check and tread depth inspection at participating ITIA registered dealers nationwide this week.
Simple tyre safety tips for motorists include carrying out a visual check before every journey; looking for bulges, cracks, cuts, or uneven wear, ensuring tyres are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure; and replacing tyres when tread depth falls below 3mm.
New tyres typically have 8mm of tread depth and the legal minimum tread is 1.6mm, or 1mm for motorcycles, the RSA said.