Using tyres older than ten years on trucks, buses and coaches is to be banned in England, Scotland and Wales, the government has announced.

The move will make it illegal to fit tyres aged ten years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and coaches, and all wheels of minibuses.

Secondary legislation will be laid in the autumn and will also apply to re-treaded tyres. Under the legislation the date of re-treading will have to be marked – making the age of the tyre clearly visible.

The government has made the move following extensive investigation, including research commissioned by the Department for Transport, which indicates ageing tyres suffer corrosion that could cause them to fail, as well as a public consultation.

Part of the research comprised an online survey of commercial vehicle fleet operators, which found that while 72% of operators tend not to limit tyres based on their age, 97% of respondents do not use tyres that are ten years old or older.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “In the same way that you wouldn’t drive a car with faulty brakes, ensuring your tyres are fit for purpose is crucial in making every journey safer.

“Taking this step will give drivers across the country confidence their lorries, buses and coaches are truly fit for use – a safety boost for road users everywhere.”

Drivers, owners and operators will now be responsible for ensuring vehicle tyres meet the new requirements. The government will also ask the DVSA to continue checking tyre age as part of their routine roadside enforcement activities and adding an additional assessment to the annual MOT test.