Motorists Urged to Check Tyres as Over 182,000 Fail Safety Tests

More than 182,000 vehicles failed their NCT due to tyre problems in the past year, with authorities launching Tyre Safety Day today to remind drivers that basic tyre checks could save lives. The campaign, marking the start of Irish Road Safety Week, offers free tyre inspections at participating garages nationwide.

The Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána, the National Car Testing Service and the Irish Tyre Industry Association launched the initiative this morning, highlighting that one in ten motorists are driving on defective tyres.

The figures paint a concerning picture of vehicle maintenance across Ireland. In the last 12 months, 182,160 motorists, representing 10.5% of all tests, failed their NCT specifically due to tyre condition. More alarmingly, 43,184 vehicles were found with dangerously low tread depths of less than 1.6mm, the legal minimum.

Mark Synnott, Managing Director of NCTS, revealed that the service has detected over 200,000 tyres with defects so far this year alone. Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána has issued 1,755 fixed charge notices for tyre offences in 2025 to date.

Sam Waide, CEO of the RSA, said: "Tyres are the only part of your vehicle in direct contact with the road, and they play a vital role in keeping you safe. Worn or defective tyres can mean the difference between stopping in time or being involved in a serious collision. Alarmingly, tyres remain the leading cause of NCT failures, which shows that too many motorists are not carrying out basic checks."

The campaign comes at a crucial time as winter approaches, when wet and slippery conditions make tyre grip and braking distances even more critical. For Cork motorists facing the county's notoriously changeable weather, proper tyre maintenance could prove the difference between arriving safely and being caught out on flooded roads.

Inspector Ross O'Doherty from the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau added:

"Too often, Gardaí encounter vehicles on the road fitted with tyres that fall below acceptable legal and safety standards, posing risks not only to the driver but to all road users. We encourage drivers to make tyre checks a regular habit, looking out for signs of wear, damage, or low tread depth, and to replace tyres when necessary."

Analysis of coronial data from 2015 to 2020 found that 13% of driver fatalities where vehicle condition was recorded had a defect related to tyres, underlining the potentially fatal consequences of neglecting basic maintenance.

Sue O'Neill, CEO of the Irish Tyre Industry Association, encouraged motorists to take advantage of free safety checks:

"This week, we are once again inviting all motorists to avail of a free tyre pressure check and tread depth inspection at participating ITIA registered dealers nationwide. It's quick, it's free, and it could save your life or someone else's."

Motorists can download a free guide to tyre safety at www.itia.ie, which provides detailed information on choosing the right tyres and maintaining them properly.

The RSA recommends that drivers carry out a visual check before every journey, looking for bulges, cracks, cuts or uneven wear. Tyres should be inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure and replaced when tread depth falls below 3mm, well before reaching the legal minimum of 1.6mm.

As of 5 October 2025, 126 lives have been lost on Irish roads this year, seven fewer than the same period last year. The authorities are appealing to every motorist to play their part in reducing road deaths and serious injuries by taking tyre safety seriously.