29 December 2025
The AA is urging drivers to check their tyres before heading back to work and school after the Christmas break, warning that thousands of avoidable breakdowns explain why the post-Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for its patrols.
Between Boxing Day and 6 January last year, AA patrols attended more than 14,000* tyre-related breakdowns, many of which could have been prevented with a few simple checks over the holiday period.
The AA is also reminding drivers that even if they don’t plan to use their vehicle, a noticeable drop in tyre pressure while the vehicle is parked should not be ignored. A slow puncture or damaged tyre could fail without warning when the car is suddenly needed in an emergency.
Tony Rich, AA head of road safety, said: “Tyres are your vehicles’ only contact with the road. After sitting idle over Christmas, they can lose pressure or develop cracks, particularly if the outside temperature drops. A five-minute check now could save you from a dangerous blowout or a costly callout.
“Even if you’re not planning to drive, a tyre that’s losing pressure should be fixed straight away – you never know when you might urgently need your car.”
Tyre checks matter
The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6 mm, but the AA and TyreSafe recommend at least 3 mm in winter to improve grip on wet and icy roads. The organisations also recommend checking your spare wheel (if your vehicle has one) is properly inflated and in a serviceable condition.
The AA advises drivers to double-check that their locking wheel nut key is kept in a safe place in the vehicle, not at home. AA patrols regularly attend jobs where the key has been misplaced, leading to avoidable delays and in some cases the costly removal of the security bolts.
Tyres over six years old can start to crack internally and externally and road users should be vigilant about checking the condition of their tyres regularly. You can find the age of the tyre by checking the embossed date** stamp on the sidewall.
“When conditions are at their worst, tyre safety becomes even more important.”
TyreSafe backs the call
TyreSafe, the UK’s tyre safety charity, is echoing the AA’s warning as part of its ‘Home Safely for Winter’ campaign.
Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said: “When conditions are at their worst, tyre safety becomes even more important. We urge drivers to ACT – check Air pressure, Condition and Tread.
It’s a small step that could mean the difference between arriving safely and facing a roadside emergency.”
TyreSafe estimates that more than six million tyres in the UK have illegal tread each year, putting millions of road users at risk.
AA’s quick tyre check tips
- Pressure: Check tyres when they are cold and inflate to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI or bar.
- Tread: Use a tread depth gauge or the 20p test – if you can see the outer rim of the coin, tread is too low.
- Condition: Look for cuts, bulges, cracks or embedded objects.
- Spare & tools: Make sure the spare is usable and the locking wheel nut key is in the car.
- Age: Check the DOT code on the tyre sidewall and consider the replacement of tyres older than six years.
*AA patrols attended 14,000+ tyre-related breakdowns between Boxing Day and 6 January last year.
**
Image shows the WWYY of tyre production i.e. week 09/2023: AA
Tyre defects contributed to 172 people being killed or seriously injured in 2024.
Full tyre safety advice is available at theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/tyres and tyresafe.org.