The shocking statistics reveal that the number of people successfully convicted in England and Wales in 2011 at a Magistrates court for driving with dangerous or defective tyres was a massive 9,639.

Worryingly, the true scale of illegal tyres is probably much higher as the figures do not take into account tyre related matters dealt with by the police at the roadside.

However, most alarming was that defective tyres accounted for more than two-thirds of the ‘vehicle defects’ category, which also includes items such as brakes and steering components.

‘Tyres play a vital role in road safety so these latest figures are very worrying,’ commented Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. ‘Not only is there still a high level of ignorance about tyre care, but perhaps even more alarming is that many motorists continue to drive on tyres that they know are illegal or dangerous,’ he added.

‘But that is like playing Russian roulette as the tyre is the only part of the car in contact with the road and, therefore, makes them vitally important to how a car performs.’

Current UK law requires car drivers to have a minimum of 1.6mm tread depth across the central three quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference. Drivers who fail to comply with the regulations face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

Last year there were more than 1,200 casualties resulting from accidents caused by illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres.

However, since its inception in 2006, TyreSafe’s activities have helped reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in a tyre related accident by 38%.

‘If you drive with illegal or defective tyres then you not only risk your own life and that of your passengers and other road users, but you could also end up with a heavy fine and points on your driving licence,’ Jackson concluded.