On the eve of a new law requiring all driving test candidates to demonstrate a knowledge of basic car maintenance, research launched by Continental Tyres reveals 75% of people are potentially putting themselves at risk due to a lack of knowledge.

From 1st September 2003, candidates will be asked a series of questions on safety checks, including how to measure tyre tread depth and tyre pressure.   However, only 25% of those surveyed knew the correct way to measure tread depth and just 1 in 14 motorists are aware of the legal minimum tyre tread depth.

What's more, 33% of drivers admitted they had no idea as to how to carry out this basic check, with 46% of women pleading ignorance compared to 19% of men.

Tim Bailey, Safety Spokesperson, Continental Tyres, said:  "Continental has been a strong advocate of educating the public about tyre safety and welcomes the introduction of basic safety check questions to the driving test.  However, as our research has shown, this move by the Driving Standards Authority does not address the overwhelming level of ignorance amongst the 32 million drivers already on the road."

This lack of knowledge may stem from the fact that over 1 in 3 people do not check their tyres themselves, with 34% of women relying on their partner to do it.

The study, which analysed the attitudes and knowledge of over 1,000 men and women towards car tyre safety, also revealed that just 1 in 4 drivers rate tyre pressure as among their three most important safety checks. 6% confessed to having never checked their tyre pressure at all (11% of women compared to 2% of men).

Those that do make the effort to check have some bizarre methods - 3% give their tyres a good kick to see how soft or hard they are, with this being especially popular amongst 16-24 year olds (8%).  1% of those surveyed even claim to check a dial under the bonnet!

While drivers should check the tread and pressure of their tyres at least every two weeks, 86% fail to check their tyre treads and 74% neglect to check their pressure this regularly.  In fact, 41% only have their tyre tread depth checked every six months, while 11% opt for just once a year.  20% of drivers only check their tyre pressure every six months (30% of women compared to 13% of men).

Tim Bailey added: "Your tyres are the only part of your car in contact with the road, and it's vital they're kept in good condition to prolong tyre life, avoid accidents and keep braking distances to a minimum."

Continental has devised the following top tips to ensure safety:

• Every two weeks, check the pressure of your tyres when tyres are cold (pressure increases when they are warm).  Adjust your tyre pressures according to the load in the car - a luggage-packed vehicle usually requires a higher tyre pressure (see your car handbook).  Correct pressure will improve handling, and reduce fuel consumption and tyre wear.
• Don't be deceived by the appearance of the tyre.  If a nail has punctured the tyre, the air may be lost very slowly due to the efficiency of the linings used in today's tyres.  Therefore it's even more important to check pressure properly with a gauge.
• Check the tread depth of your tyres - the minimum legal UK tread depth for car tyres is 1.6mm.  However, it is safest to replace tyres at around a depth of 2mm.
• Check your tyres for damage: look out for any cuts, cracks or bulges, as these can lead to slow punctures and blowouts. 
• Remember to check the pressure and tread depth of your sparetyre.