More than 12 per cent of cars on Irish roads may have illegally-low tyre thread depths, according to research published today.
According to the Irish Tyre Industry Association study, this means as many as 200,000 cars are driving on illegal tyres.
The data was revealed as a joint campaign by the ITIA and the Road Safety Authority was launched by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.
"Motorists need to be extra vigilant when it comes to vehicle maintenance and tyre safety is an important element of that," Mr Dempsey said.
"This tyre safety campaign is an important one and I hope that it will prompt motorists to regularly check their tyres for depth, damage and pressure. Keeping your tyres in good working order might just save a life."
Michael Rowland, director of road safety education and research at the RSA said the condition of vehicles is a factor in just 0.7 per cent of fatal road collisions. However he added: "The breaking distance of your vehicle and its ability to handle wet weather conditions are all dependent on having safe and legal tyres".
As part of the tyre safety campaign the RSA and the ITIA have developed a tyre safety leaflet which is being distributed in all National Car Test Service (NCT) renewal notices over the next 12 months.
It will also be available from local driving test centres, NCT centres, local authorities and will be circulated to Garda stations. The leaflet contains important information on tyre safety and a tyre tread depth gauge.
Some 3.1 per cent of cars have failed the NCT due to tyres being under the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm.
