Your vehicle

Tyres and brakes

Whatever the weather, make sure your vehicle and equipment are in good condition and regularly checked and serviced.

In bad weather the condition of your vehicle – especially your tyres and brakes – is even more important.

Different weather conditions can lead to a variety of different hazards, both from season to season and from region to region.

Tyres

Check tyre condition and pressures frequently. Make sure that the tyres have a good tread, that the walls are undamaged and that they’re inflated to the correct pressure.

Also check your tyres for uneven wear of the tread, either across or around the tyre, which could be due to a mechanical defect. Have your vehicle checked, any fault put right and a new tyre fitted if necessary.

Good tyres are especially important in snow, on icy roads and in heavy rain. Be prepared; don’t wait until the bad weather shows up the deficiency – it might be too late, and your life could depend on a few millimetres of rubber that should have been there.

Different types of tyres are available that are specially adapted for particular weather conditions (such as winter tyres or all-season tyres).

Brakes

Keep your brakes well maintained. Stopping takes much longer on wet, slippery roads, even with perfect brakes.