Vehicle safety organisation TyreSafe has issued a call to UK motorists to pay proper care and attention to the state of their tyres this winter.

With the Met Office posting yellow warnings for snow across many parts of the country, TyreSafe has issued its own warning to drivers around ensuring the roadworthiness of their vehicles, with special attention to be paid to the condition of their tyres.

Road users must ensure tread depth exceeds the legal minimum of 1.6 mm around the central circumference of all their tyres, while they should also be checked for any excessive wear and tear.

Failing to do so can lead to a range of serious issues for motorists, including less responsive acceleration, braking and handling, as well as the significant danger of suffering a blowout.

Tyre pressures should also be regularly checked to ensure they remain within the manufacturer's recommended psi levels.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: "As snow in the UK is infrequent, many drivers are not used to the testing conditions it poses. Checking the pressure, tread and condition of your tyres is not a 'nice to do', it's a 'must do'."

Ben Robb, brand manager at The Fuelcard People, adds: "Tyre safety should be a number one priority for all drivers. Arguably, the tyres are the single most important item on any car, as it is these small patches of rubber which provide the only contact with the road."