Car tyres are the only part of the vehicle that touches the road, yet our knowledge about them is surprisingly patchy. While many UK drivers feel confident about their tyre knowledge, the reality tells a different story.
From tread depth to run-flat technology and DOT numbers, drivers often overestimate their understanding, leaving blind spots that could have serious safety implications.
We first asked drivers how confident they felt… then we tested that confidence against real tyre safety questions. Our survey reveals where drivers are confident, where they are misinformed, and which regions and demographics are leading in terms of tyre knowledge.
Key takeaways
- 73% of UK drivers say they feel somewhat or very confident in their tyre knowledge.
- Almost a third (32%) incorrectly think the legal tread minimum is 2.5mm, and around a fifth (19%) don’t know what tread depth means at all.
- Only 61% of drivers correctly understood that run-flat tyres allow you to drive when punctured.
- Almost two-thirds (65%) of drivers either misunderstood the DOT number or admitted they didn’t know what it indicates.
- Men said they were more confident than women in their tyre knowledge, but still around a third (34%) do not know the legal minimum tread depth, compared with 30% of women.
- Older drivers are not the most confident. Confidence peaks in the 25 to 44 age range.
- Regional differences are clear: Cardiff, Newcastle, and Norwich show the most uncertainty across key tyre knowledge questions, while London, Bristol, and Southampton tend to perform best.
- Scottish drivers stand out: Edinburgh and Glasgow show a stronger understanding overall, with high correct responses for DOT numbers (Glasgow 47%) and run-flat tyres (Edinburgh 69%).