The breakdown and road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is backing Tyre Safety Month with a call for drivers to make a simple and potentially life-saving vehicle check. GEM says a five-minute winter-ready check is cheaper and safer than an avoidable roadside breakdown, especially with darker journeys, lower temperatures and more frequent rain on the horizon.

Every journey is full of the unexpected when we might be confronted by heavy rain, a driver pulling out without warning or an obstacle in the road. While we can’t predict every situation we might face, we can prepare for them.

That’s why this year’s Tyre Safety Month campaign is encouraging road users to ‘Act Before You React’.

By taking just a few minutes to check our tyres before setting off, we can help reduce the risk of tyre-related incidents, improve our vehicle’s performance and keep ourselves safe.

Check tyre pressures at least once a month, including the spare where fitted.

placeholder image — Check tyre pressures at least once a month, including the spare where fitted.

Tyres are the only parts of a vehicle that make direct contact with the road, yet each tyre has a contact patch little larger than the palm of a hand. Those four small patches must carry the vehicle’s weight, transmit braking and steering forces, and maintain grip when road conditions deteriorate.

The latest road casualty figures demonstrate why regular tyre care matters. In 2025, 201 people were killed or seriously injured throughout the UK in reported collisions where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were recorded as a contributory factor – a 19% increase on the previous year. Total casualties in such collisions rose 14%, from 585 to 667, while 447 reported collisions involved tyre defects.

GEM says that checking tyres should form part of a broader seasonal routine. A few minutes spent inspecting key safety items at home or at a fuel station can help drivers avoid a puncture, poor wet-weather grip, reduced visibility or a flat battery on a cold and wet journey.

Speaking of this year’s campaign, James Luckhurst, GEM’s head of road safety, said, “These are not minor maintenance issues. These latest figures should be a wake-up call for every driver.

Additional checks should also be made as we approach more challenging road and weather conditions.

“Our tyres are the only components connecting our vehicle to the road, so it makes sense to give them the attention they deserve. A quick, routine check of pressures, tread and condition is one of the simplest safety actions we can take – and it is far preferable to discovering a problem on a dark, wet roadside in winter.”

GEM’s five-point winter-ready tyre check:

Check tyre pressures at least once a month, including the spare where fitted. Use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings and check tyres when cold.

Check tread and tyre condition. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread around the complete circumference, but don’t wait until tyres are close to that limit. Look for cuts, bulges, cracking, embedded objects and uneven wear.

Check the spare or repair kit. Make sure a spare tyre is correctly inflated and roadworthy, or confirm that the vehicle’s repair/inflation kit is complete, in date and that you know how to use it.

Additional checks should also be made as we approach more challenging road and weather conditions. Check wipers, screenwash and lights, including rear fog lights. Use suitable screenwash for colder conditions, and check that all lights are also clean for maximum output.