Vehicle safety organisation TyreSafe has published new research highlighting the considerable number of UK motorists who are potentially unprepared to meet the rigours of the likely wet winter that lies ahead.

According to TyreSafe's findings, just 27 per cent of UK vehicle owners have examined the state of their tyres within the last 30 days – the longest length of time that is recommended between such inspections.

As a result, the organisation believes millions of drivers could be running the risk of serious issues like aquaplaning and poor handling in wet conditions, as the state of the tyre is one of the most important aspects of road safety when faced with wind and rain – something the British winter is famous for.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, commented: "Last winter was the wettest ever on record and it's essential that motorists check their tread depth at least once a month to ensure they can cope with any similar weather, which we may experience again this year."

He added checking tread depth is an essential part of vehicle maintenance and it can be done easily in a few minutes by inserting a 20p piece into the tread and examining whether or not its rim is obscured.

If this is the case, then it is likely the tyre remains legal, but if the rim can be seen, then the owner should replace the tyre as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, motorists should also examine the general state of their tyres each month, looking for issues like bulging or rips in the surface and excessive wear – any of these issues could have a dramatic impact on handling and braking, especially in wet conditions.

"Avoiding wet weather problems such as aquaplaning, can be easily achieved by regularly checking your tyre tread depth," Mr Jackson concluded.