ESSEX Police has become TyreSafe’s latest road safety partner for 2026, reinforcing our commitment to tackling dangerous and illegal tyres and improving road safety across the county.

Essex Police joins more than 250 TyreSafe road safety partners and supporters nationally, to join the growing network dedicated to reducing collisions caused by tyre defects and poor maintenance.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair, TyreSafe, said, “We are pleased to welcome Essex Police as the latest TyreSafe road safety partner. Enforcement and education go hand in hand in tackling the issue of illegal and poorly maintained tyres. By working together, we can raise awareness of the risks, encourage road users to check their tyres regularly, and help reduce preventable incidents and casualties on our roads.”

During dedicated road safety operations, our officers’ work highlights the scale of the challenge finding a significant number of vehicles with illegal, defective, or dangerous tyres, evidencing a widespread issue that presents serious risks to all road users.

Inspector Steve Rooney, Roads Policing, Essex Police, said:

“We are seeing first-hand just how many vehicles on our roads are being driven with tyres that are worn, defective, or in an outright dangerous condition. The risk to the public is enormous, yet the fear of detection among offenders remains low. By partnering with TyreSafe, we aim to raise awareness, improve compliance, and ultimately reduce avoidable harm on our roads.”

Tyre defects are a significant risk factor to road safety. If the tyre is compromised or damaged, it can lead to immediate loss of vehicle control and affect braking.

In the UK, tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the entire outer circumference. 

Tyres must be free from large cuts, lumps, or bulges.

Tyres must be of the correct size, speed rating, and load capacity for the vehicle.

Driving on illegal tyres can result in a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.