Tyre checks are quick and vital and take less time than making a proper brew. That’s the key message of PCL’s campaign in support of TyreSafe’s annual Tyre Safety Month this October.
The theme for 2025 is that everyday stresses get in the way of this small but crucial task – the road safety charity reports that 91% of women and 79% of men feel overwhelmed each month, with 71% more stressed about vehicle maintenance than relationship issues.
TyreSafe’s advice is that “Life has enough pressures. Don’t let tyres be one,” and the solution lies in their acronym, A.C.T. Carrying out a regular three-step Air Pressure, Condition and Tread check once a month, every month, will improve your road safety and take the pressure off.
PCL’s own campaign aims to highlight just how simple this protective maintenance task is and why it’s essential not to put it off, by pointing out that a proper tyre check takes just 2-3 minutes. Less time than making a proper Yorkshire brew, which takes 4-5.
Yet according to TyreSafe, only 46% of drivers check tyre pressures at least once a month, 60% of women check less than monthly, and 41% of students wait for a warning light first. This results in over 6 million illegal tyres on the road each year (TyreSafe) and 1 in 5 tyre-related motorway/A-road breakdowns (National Highways).
Even more concerning is that 75% of tyre defects in fatal collisions are due to lack of maintenance (National Highways/TRRL), and PCL wants to drive home the message that it only takes a couple of minutes to check the pressure, tread and condition of all of your tyres.
When you consider that Brits drink an estimated 100 million cups of tea daily, around 1.6 million cups per month, (summerstirs.com, 2025), just imagine the impact on road safety if everyone checked their tyres once a month whilst their tea is brewing.
PCL Managing Director Lee Wright said: “As a proud TyreSafe member since 2007, PCL is committed to educating drivers about tyre safety and the benefits of checking tyres with accurate equipment. Our latest campaign in support of Tyre Safety Month shows that checks really are stress-free and faster than everyday activities such as making a proper brew. Make it part of your routine and you’ll barely notice it – but the potential positive impact on road safety if everyone does it is huge.”
Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said: “Life brings enough pressures without adding the stress and danger of unsafe tyres. That’s why TyreSafe’s message this Tyre Safety Month is simple: take a few minutes each month to check your tyres.
“PCL’s campaign shows just how quick and easy it can be – faster than making a cup of tea – yet the benefits are enormous in terms of safety, saving money, and staying legal. If every road user made tyre checks part of their routine, the positive impact on road safety would be immense. We’re proud to have PCL as one of our longest-standing members and truly value their continued commitment to helping us drive home the importance of tyre safety.”
So why not make it a habit to get the kettle on and carry out an A.C.T. check once a month, every month, and before long journeys. Then you can sit back and enjoy your tea, feeling relaxed in the knowledge your tyres safe and legal.
