06/10/2026
RSA, An Garda Síochána and ITIA Launch Tyre Safety Day
The Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána, and the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) have teamed up to launch Tyre Safety Day.
To mark the launch, Dublin City University hosted a hands-on tyre inspection session at its St Patrick’s Campus, helping students learn how to check their tyres properly and spot dangerous defects.
Tyres remain the main cause of NCT failures in Ireland with figures for the last 12 months showing 193,232 (10.79%) motorists failing due to tyre condition. Of those, 45,395 failed as a result of a dangerously low tyre tread of less than 1.6mm.
This mirrors a trend of fixed charge notices being issued to motorists for tyre offences by An Garda Síochána. As of 9 September, this year, 1,349 fixed charge notices have been issued – an average of 37 detections per week.
Brendan Walsh, Chief Operating Officer of the RSA, said “Most drivers rarely think about their tyres until a flat or a blowout forces them to. However, because tyres are your car’s only point of contact with the road, regular checks are absolutely essential for staying safe. By learning to inspect their tyres early on, young drivers can build lifelong habits that protect them on every journey. This routine is simple: just walk around your vehicle before driving to check for visible damage, ensure they are properly inflated, and confirm the tread depth is legal.”
Inspector, Michael Houlihan, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: ‘’Keeping your tyres roadworthy protects everyone on the road, not just you, by significantly lowering the risk of a defect-related crash. For Tyre Safety Day, we are partnering with RSA Vehicle Inspectors to conduct nationwide checkpoints focused on education and engagement. However, officers will enforce traffic laws and issue penalties where tyre defects or other legal breaches are found.”
The ITIA members around Ireland are inviting all motorists to call in for a free tyre pressure check and tread depth inspection during Irish Road Safety Week, which began yesterday. (Monday 5th Oct)
A visit to www.itia.ie will lead motorists to their nearest ITIA registered dealer. Drivers can download a copy of Your Guide to Tyre Safety on the RSA website.
Sue O’Neill, CEO, ITIA, said: ‘’We urge all drivers to build the habit of checking their tyres more frequently. As the leading experts in tyre health, we invite young and new drivers to drop into any ITIA-registered outlet to ensure their vehicle is completely roadworthy. You can easily find your nearest certified expert by visiting www.itia.ie”
Tyre grip is especially important as winter approaches, particularly when travelling in wetter weather conditions when motorists need to double their braking distance.
DCU Student Union representative, added: “We are delighted to be involved today, giving our students the chance to learn about tyre safety first-hand. This allows students to practice actual tyre inspections, ask questions, and understand the real dangers of defective tyres. We all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe, and building a lifelong habit of regular tyre checks will benefit our students for years to come’’.
WEST TYRE Ballinrobe & Westport are your local Irish Tyre Industry Association members, call in for your FREE Tyre inspection during ⚠️Road Safety Week ⚠️
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