Tyre Laws

[Paul V]

Where do you stand tyre with low pressure, a friend pulled after pulling out his depot and stopping round the corner, with one low tyre. The police motorcyclist stopped asked if he knew the correct pressure for the tyre, he asked what he meant, then police repeated asking the question, then said lets check them, one was down to 10psi, he said he’d deal with it using £60 fixed penalty for under inflated tyre.

[john robson]

An under-inflated tyre is an offence in the same way as a bald tyre of a tyre with a cut/bulge in it. This is because it is potentially just as dangerous. It therefore attracts the same penalty ie 3 points and £60 fine. It is an offence for which both the driver and or owner can be prosecuted, so it down to them to make sure they are checked and in order. Edited by john robson on Thursday 14th June 19:45

[Nightmare]

john...another question on the same topic. I was loaned a company car (Audi A3) for a few days a while back, and having driven a few before decided that there was something a bit wrong seeing as this one handled like a bag of wet squirrels. On checking the tyre pressure I found that all were down (minimum of 12 psi, maximum of 17 front right!!) Leaseplan own the car...our company rents them....I was dirving. I take it it would be my fault if I got pulled? and what if I got pulled as I left the gates of my work before having any reasonable chance to check it? cheers Night

[Horse]

Here's a nice little revenue earner. Every motorist who gets a puncture immediately gets a £60 fine! You could have the AA dishing out tickets

[Paul V]

The other thing is how does the law stand, just because the manufacturer RECOMMENDS a pressure that doesn’t mean you have to run at those pressures, is it written down that you have to run at these pressures? I was a tyre fitter for a few years so can understand some logic behind dangerously low pressures, but as far as I knew it was only the 1.6mm across ¾ of the tread and no deep cuts on the wall. Is there a percentage of how low the tyre can be compared to the rest?

[Graham and Rosie]

quote:john...another question on the same topic. I was loaned a company car (Audi A3) for a few days a while back, and having driven a few before decided that there was something a bit wrong seeing as this one handled like a bag of wet squirrels. On checking the tyre pressure I found that all were down (minimum of 12 psi, maximum of 17 front right!!) Leaseplan own the car...our company rents them....I was dirving. I take it it would be my fault if I got pulled? and what if I got pulled as I left the gates of my work before having any reasonable chance to check it? cheers Night

You should check the pressures before driving off, same with the lights and stuff - well you should if you read the Highway Code, so I guess you would still get done ================ Graham and Rosie