TyreSafe is advising motorists to make tyre safety a higher priority than ever with weather data suggesting that the frequency of extreme rainfall in the UK may be increasing.

The analysis from the National Climate Information Centre, the UK’s official climate record, shows that the days of particularly heavy rainfall have become more common since 1960.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Met Office has also just announced that the dismally wet 2012 was the second wettest year on record.

Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “Adequate tread depth is essential for safe driving, especially in wet weather which seems to be increasingly commonplace.

“Tyres that do not have enough tread pose a significant danger to the driver, passengers and other road users, so they should be checked regularly to make sure they are safe and legal.”

Adequate tread depth is essential for good grip on wet roads as the tread pattern displaces the water from the road surface. Drivers with insufficient tread depth face a number of hazards including  longer stopping distances, less grip and more chance of aquaplaning.

“If extreme weather and heavy rainfall is set to become more of an everyday occurrence, then motorists need to make sure that they are prepared for these conditions by looking after their tyres,” added Jackson.

Click on the links below for more information and advice on tyre best practice

20p tread depth test

Guide to cold weather tyres

Tyre safety checklist

Tyre labelling scheme