Tyre Safety Month 2026: How to Check Your Tyres in 3 Simple Steps

October is Tyre Safety Month, the UK’s biggest annual campaign for safer tyres. It’s run by TyreSafe, the UK’s tyre safety charity, and as a TyreSafe member we’re backing this year’s message all month: Act Before You REact.

The idea is simple. Most of us only think about our tyres after something goes wrong: a skid, a near miss, a warning light. By then it’s too late to prepare. Three quick checks, done regularly, mean your tyres are ready before you need them.

Tyre Safety Month runs from 1 to 31 October 2026.

What TyreSafe’s Research Found

TyreSafe’s new national research for this year’s campaign shows a big gap between how confident drivers feel and how prepared their cars actually are:

• 83% of drivers believe they’re in full control of their stopping distance, but only 6% could correctly identify the stopping distance in the wet at motorway speeds.
• 10% of drivers have never checked their tyre pressure or tread depth.
• 38% of drivers had a near miss in the last 12 months, but only 11% checked their tyres afterwards.
• 22% did nothing at all after a near miss.

You can’t control what other road users do. You can control the condition of your tyres, and they’re the only part of the car touching the road.

How to Check Your Tyres: Remember ACT

TyreSafe’s ACT check takes a few minutes. Do it at least once a month and before any long journey.

A: Air Pressure

Use an accurate gauge and check your pressures when the tyres are cold, before you set off or after the car has been parked for a few hours. You’ll find the right pressures on the sticker inside the driver’s door shut, inside the fuel filler flap or in the handbook. Many cars need higher pressures when fully loaded, so check before a holiday or a big trip.

If your tyre pressure warning light is on, our free TPMS check reads all four sensors and tells you what’s going on.

C: Condition

Walk round the car and look at each tyre, including the inner sidewall if you can see it. Look for:

• Cuts or cracks in the sidewall or tread
• Lumps or bulges, which can mean internal damage
• Nails, screws or stones stuck in the tread
• Uneven wear, which can point to tracking or pressure problems

Any lump or bulge needs checking by a tyre professional as soon as possible. Our guide to tyre cuts, cracking and perishing explains what each type of damage means.

T: Tread

The legal minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm, across the central three-quarters of the tyre and all the way around. Grip in the wet falls away well before that, so don’t wait for the limit.

The quickest home check is the 20p test. Put a 20p coin into the main grooves in a few places around each tyre. If you can see the outer band of the coin, your tread may be getting close to the legal limit and it’s worth getting it checked.

Had a Near Miss? Check Your Tyres

Hard braking, a slide on a wet roundabout, a kerb you didn’t see: any of these can damage a tyre or show up a problem that was already there. TyreSafe’s message this year is to turn a scare into a safety check. If you’ve had a moment recently, do a quick ACT check or let us do it for you.

Free Tyre Health Check at Lindleys

Not sure about your tyres? Book a free tyre health check at a Lindleys site near you. We check your air pressure, condition and tread, and give you the results in writing. It takes around 20 minutes, and there’s no obligation.

Each tyre is checked and recorded, so you get the results in writing.

In Arnold or Colwick? Head to our tyre centres on Furlong Street and Daleside Road, just around the corner. Free tyre health checks are carried out in branch, not by our mobile service.

Book your free tyre health check

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Tyre Safety Month 2026?

Tyre Safety Month runs from 1 to 31 October 2026. Our free tyre health check runs all year round.

How often should I check my tyres?

TyreSafe recommends checking your tyre pressures at least once a month and before long journeys, and looking over the condition and tread at the same time.

What is the legal tread depth in the UK?

1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, all the way around its circumference. Different rules apply to some vehicles, such as HGVs and motorcycles.

Is the tyre health check really free?

Yes. It’s free with no obligation. If anything needs doing, we’ll show you what we found and give you a clear price first.