THE UK faces a tyre safety crisis, with two in five vehicles on the road today running on tyres that are either outright illegal or dangerously close to the limit.

That's the stark warning from the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) as it publishes its TyreCheck 2025 report - the largest study of its kind ever undertaken in the UK.

The investigation of more than 58,000 vehicles across 141 locations found that eight per cent were fitted with illegal tyres below the 1.6mm legal minimum.

A further 32 per cent were on "barely legal" tyres - technically compliant but offering severely reduced grip and safety margins, especially in wet conditions.

The NTDA warns this trend shows motorists are delaying replacement until the last possible moment, putting themselves and others at serious risk.

• Halesowen in the West Midlands named UK's most dangerous hotspot with 71 per cent of cars on illegal tyres, described as a "genuine public safety emergency" • Eight per cent of UK vehicles are running on illegal tyres below the 1.6mm legal minimum - a level that makes stopping safely in wet conditions almost impossible • 32 per cent of vehicles are on "barely legal" tyres (1.6-2.0mm tread), technically legal but dangerously unsafe • Two in every five vehicles on UK roads today pose a serious safety risk to drivers, passengers, and other road users

The report also uncovered shocking regional disparities. In the situation was described as a public safety emergency, with over 70 per cent vehicles found to be illegally equipped - the worst figures ever recorded in UK tyre safety monitoring and nine times the national average.

Northern Ireland recorded a national average of 21 per cent of vehicles on illegal tyres, with a focused study revealing a 57 per cent non-compliance rate.

Major urban centres fared badly too: Sheffield showed over 62 per cent of vehicles at risk, and in Bradford the figure was 36 per cent. By contrast, East England & Surrey and Hampshire delivered some of the best results, proving that strong tyre safety standards are achievable.

Ian Andrew, CEO of the NTDA, says: "This report should serve as a wake-up call for every motorist in the UK. The fact that nearly two in five vehicles are running on tyres that are either illegal or dangerously close to it is shocking. The tragedy is that this isn't just a technical issue - it's about lives at risk every single day on our roads. Legal doesn't always mean safe and drivers are leaving tyre replacement far too late. We urgently need to move beyond minimum standards and make tyre safety a national priority."

The NTDA is calling for action, including raising the legal minimum tread depth from 1.6mm to 2.0mm, targeted interventions in high-risk hotspots and greater financial support for motorists struggling with replacement costs.

With stopping distances doubling in wet conditions on tyres worn below 2mm, and fines of up to £2,500 per tyre and three penalty points for those caught driving illegally, the association says that delaying replacement is gambling not just with your wallet, but with lives.