RSA, Gardaí and ITIA Launch Tyre Safety Day as Tyres Remain Main Cause of NCT Failures

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána and the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) have teamed up to launch Tyre Safety Day. To mark the launch, Dublin City University hosted a hands-on tyre inspection session at its St Patrick's Campus.

The session helped students learn how to check their tyres properly and spot dangerous defects.

Tyres remain the main cause of NCT failures in Ireland. Figures for the last 12 months show 193,232 motorists (10.79%) failed due to tyre condition, and of those, 45,395 failed as a result of a dangerously low tyre tread of less than 1.6mm.

This mirrors a trend of fixed charge notices being issued to motorists for tyre offences by An Garda Síochána. As of 9 September this year, 1,349 fixed charge notices have been issued, an average of 37 detections per week.

Brendan Walsh, Chief Operating Officer, RSA:

"Most drivers rarely think about their tyres until a flat or a blowout forces them to. However, because tyres are your car's only point of contact with the road, regular checks are absolutely essential for staying safe. By learning to inspect their tyres early on, young drivers can build lifelong habits that protect them on every journey. This routine is simple: just walk around your vehicle before driving to check for visible damage, ensure they are properly inflated, and confirm the tread depth is legal."

Inspector Michael Houlihan, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau:

"Keeping your tyres roadworthy protects everyone on the road, not just you, by significantly lowering the risk of a defect-related crash. For Tyre Safety Day, we are partnering with RSA Vehicle Inspectors to conduct nationwide checkpoints focused on education and engagement. However, officers will enforce traffic laws and issue penalties where tyre defects or other legal breaches are found."

ITIA members around Ireland are inviting all motorists to call in for a free tyre pressure check and tread depth inspection during Irish Road Safety Week, which begins today, Monday 5 October. A visit to www.itia.ie will lead motorists to their nearest ITIA registered dealer. Drivers can also download a copy of Your Guide to Tyre Safety on the RSA website here.

Sue O'Neill, CEO, ITIA:

"We urge all drivers to build the habit of checking their tyres more frequently. As the leading experts in tyre health, we invite young and new drivers to drop into any ITIA-registered outlet to ensure their vehicle is completely roadworthy. You can easily find your nearest certified expert by visiting www.itia.ie"

Tyre grip is especially important as winter approaches, particularly when travelling in wetter weather conditions when motorists need to double their braking distance.

DCU Student Union representative:

"We are delighted to be involved today, giving our students the chance to learn about tyre safety first-hand. This allows students to practice actual tyre inspections, ask questions, and understand the real dangers of defective tyres. We all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe, and building a lifelong habit of regular tyre checks will benefit our students for years to come."

The RSA's tips for keeping tyres safe include carrying out tyre checks every time you take your car or motorcycle out on the road, and looking out for any bulges, cracks, cuts or grazes. Motorists should also ensure tyres are inflated to the current level for their car.

The recommendation is to replace a tyre if the tread is below 3mm. New tyres are 8mm, and the legal minimum tread is 1.6mm. The legal limit for a motorcycle is 1mm.

To date this year, 144 lives have been lost on Irish roads, which is 16 more when compared to the same date last year. You can learn more about tyre safety by watching this RSA video.

For more information, contact the Road Safety Authority Press Office on 096 25008.