Going on holiday? Check your tyres

• 25% of all cars have defective tyres
• Holiday motorists need to take particular care
• Check your tyres yourself or get them checked

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Motorists need to check that their tyres are in optimum condition before setting off on holiday.

That's the warning from TyreSafe, a tyre safety organisation, which has discovered that 25% of all cars and vans have at least one defective or badly worn tyre in need of replacement.

Drivers setting off for the summer break often load up their cars with holiday equipment and a full complement of passengers, so ensuring your car's tyres are in good condition is all the more important.

Checking them is a simple, five-minute job. You need to:

• check your car manufacturer's handbook and inflate your tyres to the correct pressure - including the spare. There's often a recommendation for a higher pressure for fully laden cars, so if you're travelling like this, inflate them to that pressure;

• clean away any dirt from around the valves and make sure that all the dust caps are in place. Buy more if any are missing - they cost pennies;

• remove dirt and any foreign objects from the treads. Then check your tyres' treads for wear - you should have at least 1.6mm across three-quarters of the tyre's tread. However, it's good practice to change your tyres once they get to 3mm;

• also look out for uneven tyre wear - it could be an indication of misaligned steering or out-of-balance wheels;

• check the tyres for cuts or bulges, which could mean the tyre is defective and potentially dangerous. If any tyres do need replacing, it's a good idea to replace them in pairs or fours.

If you don't feel confident checking your tyres, take it to a tyre fitter - most will check them for free.