CHECKS carried out on vehicles as part of a campaign to promote safe winter driving found that a significant proportion had dangerously defective tyres.

The Cleveland Road Safety Partnership has revealed that 12 out of 89 vehicles inspected had tyres that were illegal and required replacement.

The checks were carried out at Coulby Newham Fire Station as part of a special event held at the nearby Parkway Centre in Middlesbrough to mark the recent launch of the partnership’s campaign to encourage drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe to drive ahead of winter conditions.

Richard McGuckin, vice-chairman of the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership, said: “It is a concern that 13 per cent of the vehicles checked on the day were found to be fitted with tyres that represented a real safety hazard.

“This highlights the importance of our campaign slogan – a two-minute check prevents a wreck – and I would urge all motorists to ensure they set aside the time to carry out a series of basic checks that could be the difference between life and death.”