Van daily checks: the importance of checking your tyres

There are certain requirements that all vehicles should meet in order to be considered legal. Tyres that are classed as illegal are not only safety hazards, but they can lead to the driver of the vehicle being fined and acquiring penalty points on their licence for each illegal tyre. Having the right tread depth and pressure improves vehicle handling and can decrease the risk of serious accidents; therefore, van drivers should aim to check their tyres each day during their daily walkaround checks.

In this guide, we will explore how you can ensure that your tyres are safe to use, as well as the consequences of driving with unsafe, illegal tyres. We will also discuss whether or not it is a legal requirement to check van tyres, and the other important areas of your van that should be inspected during a daily check.

Should I check my tyres during a daily walkaround check?

Before you drive your van for the day, make sure you spend 15 minutes each morning to perform a full check of your vehicle. When carrying out your daily walkaround checks on your van, you should pay attention to each tyre to make sure it is legally safe to drive. Tyres need to be checked regularly due to the wear and tear they experience, especially if they are used on business vehicles. Also, as the weather changes, tyre pressure does too, so this needs to be checked often.

Van tyres should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, and each tyre should be sufficiently inflated. An easy way to check the tread depth of your tyre is to place a 20-pence piece in the grooves of your tyres; if the outer band of the 20-pence is still visible, your tread depth may not be deep enough. There should also be no deep cuts in the tyres, no visible cords and no missing or loose wheel nuts. If your tyre pressure light illuminates on your dashboard, even if you have found no faults, you should have your van checked by a professional.

What can happen if my tyres aren’t safe or legal?

Having the correct standard of tyres is a legal requirement for every vehicle. If your van’s tyres do not meet the legal requirements, you will be punished for each tyre that is unfit. If you are stopped by the police, you could receive three points on your licence and a possible fine of up to £2,500 per tyre. If all four tyres are found to be illegal, you could receive a maximum penalty of 12 points on your licence and a fine of £10,000.

Therefore, it is important to pay particular attention to you tyres during your daily walkaround checks before you set off on your journey. As soon as you notice a defect, you should report it to the relevant person within your company. For easy to access daily walkaround checklists, you can get in touch with our team at AssetGo to request a demo of our streamlined system.

Is it a legal requirement to check my van tyres?

Although compliance concerning daily vehicle checks for your van is not as strict as it is with HGV’s and PSV’s, it is still important to check for defects on your van, as you can still get pulled over by police for certain issues. As previously mentioned, your tyres should be the legal tread depth and have no deep cuts or bulges. Your tyre pressure should also be checked to make sure the tyres are not over or under inflated. So, although checking your tyres is not a legal requirement, having suitable, roadworthy tyres is.

Driving a van that is dangerous in general could lead to three points on your licence and a fine of £2,500. A van can be declared to be in a dangerous condition for a number of reasons. For instance, any panels that are loose or falling off, lights that do not work and damaged seatbelts are all signs of a dangerous van. All of these elements can be checked during a daily vehicle check. To find out more, get in touch with us today.

What else should I check during my daily vehicle checks?

You should check both the interior and exterior of your van. Interior checks to make include making sure that your horn operates correctly, your mirrors are all properly aligned and secured, and that your wipers continuously move when switched on. Exterior checks include ensuring that the battery is held in place using the correct means, the fuel cap is fitted securely, and that all doors shut securely.

These checks should take approximately 15 minutes. By switching from paper checklists to digital versions, you can save time by easily completing your checks and sending any defect reports through a comprehensive CMS system. This securely stores your data, so you no longer need to worry about misplacing your paper checklists.

How AssetGo can help

Here at AssetGo, we have developed an all-inclusive app that not only allows you to access your checklists for a more efficient completion of your daily vehicle checks, but provides you with a full fleet management system. PMI checks, vehicle data and compliance details are all accessible in one place, reducing downtime and improving organisation.

To request a trial, or to inquire further, please get in touch with a member of our team today via our online contact form.

Related Content

What are daily walkaround checks for vans and why are they important?

Van daily checks: how to accurately report defects

A complete check to daily walkaround checks for vans