ROAD safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is supporting Tyre Safety Month which takes place throughout October.

Making sure your tyres are in good condition plays a vital part in reducing the risks you face - and the risks you pose to others - on your road journeys, says GEM.

GEM chief executive Neil Worth said: "Around 14 per cent of calls to our breakdown line involve some sort of tyre issue, making tyres the second largest reason our members need roadside assistance. The vast majority of tyre problems could be avoided through making regular checks and ensuring that tyres are correctly inflated, with plenty of tread and no bulges or cuts.

"A car's tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, all the way around. Each bald or defective tyre carries a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points."

GEM's top tips to get the most from your tyres:

1. Make regular checks of air pressure, condition and tread on your tyres. This is because under-inflated tyres reduce your vehicle's ability to grip the road, and will also compromise handling.

2. Slow down in wet weather. Grip on wet surfaces reduces as a tyre gets older, or as water depth increases, so the safest course of action is to reduce speed.

3. Don't cut corners when it comes to replacing tyres. Part-worn tyres, for example, are often imported from other European countries where the minimum tread depth is greater. So, a part-worn tyre will typically offer less tread depth when you fit it, and will need replacing much sooner than a new tyre.

4. A car's tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. The outer band of a 20p coin measures exactly 1.6mm, so place the coin between the grooves of your tyre and if the outer band is visible then your tyres need changing.