September can change the road before it feels like winter.
This guide will show you how to combat wet leaves, standing water and spray as well as spelling out how much you could save.
Both matter because the Highway Code says stopping distances are at least twice as long on wet roads as they are in the dry – and because cost savings count.
Your tyres are doing much of the work. The good news? You don’t need a garage or a half-hour inspection to spot obvious problems. A check takes a minute and is a guaranteed way to cut costs.
What does the law actually require?
For cars and light vans, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre around its circumference.
If your fleet includes goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, the rule is different: the minimum is 1mm across a continuous band covering at least three-quarters of the tread, around the whole tyre.
On a car or light van, an illegal tyre could mean a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre.
If a tyre is already close to 1.6mm, “it’ll last another month” is not much of a maintenance plan as wetter roads arrive.
How do you check tread in 60 seconds?
Start with a 20p coin. Push it into the main tread grooves. If the outer band disappears into the tread, the tyre is above the legal minimum.
If you can still see that outer band, the tread may be too low and needs checking properly with a tread-depth gauge or by a tyre professional.
Don’t test one convenient spot and call it a day. Check several places across the width and at different points around the tyre because it can look fine in one area but be badly worn in another.
TyreSafe recommends the 20p test as a quick guide. If anything looks borderline, measure it properly.
What does uneven wear tell you?
Uneven tread often means there’s another issue worth finding.
Wear across both shoulders can point to under-inflation. Heavy wear through the centre can indicate over-inflation. More wear on one side can signal an alignment problem, while irregular patches can sometimes point to suspension issues.
So don’t just look at how much tread is left. Look at how it is disappearing.
Why does tyre pressure matter on a loaded van?
Because the right pressure depends on the vehicle and load. Under-inflated tyres flex more, increase rolling resistance and affect braking and handling. They make the engine work harder, using more fuel for the same journey… important when you see the savings below.
For vans, the correct pressure when running light may not be the same as the recommended fully laden pressure. Check the manufacturer’s figures in the handbook, fuel filler flap or door pillar, and make sure drivers know which figure applies.
When should you stop waiting and replace a tyre?
If there’s a bulge, serious cut, cracking or an embedded object, stop treating it as something to check “next time”.
Bulges can indicate internal damage. Nails, screws and other objects may be repairable, but the tyre needs professional inspection before you keep using it.
If the tread is close to the legal limit, book a replacement rather than trying to last another few weeks. The same goes for a tyre that keeps losing pressure. Repeated top-ups are a warning sign, not a fix.
A tyre problem that puts a van off the road halfway through a working day will cost more than dealing with it at a time you choose.
What are the potential savings to your fleet?
For a small fleet, these checks pay for themselves.
A business running around 10 lorries could save between £3,000 and £10,000 a year, while 10 large vans could save between £1,500 and £5,000.
Actual savings will depend on mileage, tyre condition and how consistently checks are carried out.
The estimate is based on 1 to 3% lower fuel consumption from correctly inflated tyres, longer tyre life of around 10 to 20% where under-inflation is caught early, fewer roadside call-outs and emergency tyre replacements, and that drop in downtime.
How do you make tyre checks happen?
Keep the routine simple enough that people will do it.
TyreSafe recommends checking tyres at least once a month and before long journeys. For a working fleet, make the quick visual check part of the normal walk-round and put one proper monthly tread-and-pressure check in the calendar.
Give the job to a named person, record the exceptions and act on them. You don’t need another folder of paperwork.
For a wider seasonal vehicle check, see Checks to avoid winter pitfalls.
