DfT to consult on banning older tyres on large vehicles

The Department for Transport will consult on legislation to make it illegal for buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles and mini-buses to run with a tyre aged 10 years or over.

This follows a research project, launched by the government last year, to look at whether the age of a tyre has a direct impact on its safety.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Keeping people safe on our roads is our priority, and we have been working hard to understand the link between tyre age and road safety.

"Emerging evidence and leading expert testimony shows us that we need to ban tyres over the age of 10 years from larger vehicles based upon the ‘precautionary principle’ – a move that will make our roads safer for everyone."

It follows the ‘Tyred’ campaign, led by Frances Molloy, whose 18-year-old son Michael was among three people killed in a coach crash on the A3 in 2012.

The collision was caused by the failure of a 19-year-old tyre on the front axle of the coach.