A record 2.15 million vehicles failed their MOT due to tyre defects in the past year, according to new figures, prompting calls for new rule changes to be introduced.
This represents a concerning upward trend from the two million failures recorded in the previous year, DVSA data shows.
The data, released by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), shows tyre-related MOT failures have been steadily increasing since 2019-20, when 1.83 million vehicles failed.
Road safety experts are now warning that lives are being put at risk by this escalating problem, with an average of five road deaths and 80 serious injuries occurring daily on UK roads.
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Experts have warned that drivers could face serious issues if they do not check their tyres
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More than a third of these failures - over 750,000 vehicles - had previously been flagged with tyre-related advisories during earlier MOT tests.
This suggests a serious gap in the current safety system, with drivers failing to address known tyre issues despite formal warnings.
Richard Stowe, director of Verifleet, said: "We have the technology and the data to issue simple, targeted reminders after an MOT advisory, yet we leave it entirely to the driver.
"The consequences of that inaction can be fatal. It's time we treated tyre safety with the seriousness it deserves."
Commander Kyle Gordon from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) roads policing portfolio described the figures as "truly shocking".
He added that over two million vehicles failing an MOT is "frightening" and could have devastating consequences.
Gordon added: "Tyre safety is not simply about compliance, it is absolutely critical to the safety of everyone using our roads.
"Defective tyres can turn even a careful and competent law-abiding driver into a killer as the weakest link in a chain of causality leading to a collision."
This stark warning comes as safety organisations unite to demand stricter enforcement, with a coalition of key road safety stakeholders now demanding tighter safety regulations to address this issue.
The group includes the National Police Chiefs' Council, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and TyreSafe.
They are specifically calling for mandatory follow-up action within three months of a tyre advisory being issued, including driver alerts, prompts or proof-of-replacement requirements to ensure defective tyres are addressed promptly.
Currently in the UK, tyre safety is only formally checked once a year during the MOT test. There are no mandatory inspections or reminders between these annual checks.
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Drivers could be slapped with a £10,000 fine if their tyres are not up to standard
PAJamie Hassall, executive director at PACTS, highlighted the systemic failure evident in the data and the potential financial implications of the current situation.
He said: "Given the maximum fine per tyre is £2,500, and up to £5,000 for commercial vehicles, the Government could be collecting over £5billion in fines."
