The Motor Ombudsman, the Ombudsman dedicated to the automotive sector, has unveiled its ‘Make Time for Tyres’ campaign, as part of its showcase at this year’s UK Garage & Bodyshop Event. The bi-annual two-day salon at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, brings together businesses and professionals working in the aftermarket sector.
The tyre safety awareness initiative, which is supported by TyreSafe, and the tyre and road safety campaigner Sophie Lyden, is geared around the concept of ‘time’. It has been launched to emphasise the need for vehicle users to regularly check that their tyres are safe and legal, in terms of their pressure,tread depth, and overall condition.
Every year, around 57% of cars on UK roads have tyres that are running at 10% below the optimum pressure levels recommended by vehicle manufacturers. This equates to approximately 75 million under-inflated tyres2, highlighting the importance of increased awareness around this crucial aspect of vehicle maintenance.
The blue tick insignia, which sits at the heart of The Motor Ombudsman’s widely-recognised logo, is a core feature of the design ethos of the ‘Make Time for Tyres’ campaign.
It has been incorporated both as a ‘tick for safety’, and a symbol of reassurance and quality, to reinforce the fact that consumers will receive the highest standards of work and service when visiting a garage that is accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Service and Repair Code, for any aspect of looking after their car, including when it comes to tyres.
The Motor Ombudsman has created a suite of eye-catching posters for garages to download and print for display within customer-facing areas.
They feature a series of impactful messages to encourage vehicle owners to keep a close eye on their tyres, and to accentuate the fact that the condition of the rubber changes over time with usage and wear.
These promotional assets equally bear a QR code for consumers to easily access tyre-related information on The Motor Ombudsman’s website (TheMotorOmbudsman.org/Tyres) via a smartphone.
Content includes, key maintenance tips, and resources produced as part of the body’s TyreSafe Award-winning campaign on the use of winter tyres and wheel accessories during periods of cold weather.
In the coming weeks, graphics, which will follow the same visual identity as the aforementioned promotional assets, will also be a core communications channel for this initiative, and will be posted on the Motor Ombudsman’s social media channels, to reach a wide consumer and business audience.
These will be complemented by short videos highlighting some of the fundamentals of looking after tyres, filmed in association with Sophie Lyden.
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “Following in the footsteps of our other previous successful tyre safety awareness campaigns, ‘Make Time for Tyres’ is being launched ahead of one of the pivotal motoring moments for consumers in the year – the summer holiday getaway. This is a period when millions of drivers are set to take to the roads, and when checking tyres is a vital part of pre-holiday preparations.”
Bill added: “The assets however, that we have created for garages and consumers, are essentially ‘timeless’, because caring for your vehicle’s tyres is an all year-round commitment. We look forward to showcasing this campaign during the UK Garage & Bodyshop Event, and working with TyreSafe, Sophie Lyden, and our nationwide accredited business network going forward.”
Sophie Lyden, tyre and road safety campaigner, and Depot Manager at The Motor Ombudsman-accredited Westgate Tyres garage in Morecambe, Lancashire, explained: “I am delighted to be supporting The Motor Ombudsman’s latest tyre safety campaign. Checking tyres is a critical aspect of vehicle safety, as ultimately only a small contact patch separates a car from the road. Therefore driving home the message about consumers putting time aside to ensure tyres are in their optimum condition, is an absolute priority. This is because, just a few minutes of checks could make all the difference.”
Stuart Lovatt, Chair at TyreSafe, stated: “We are very pleased to be supporting this thought-provoking initiative by The Motor Ombudsman – a valued and long-standing TyreSafe Supporter. It highlights a clear message to motorists that time is of the essence when looking after tyres. This creative campaign also engages garages through innovative eye-catching and thought-provoking assets, to help promote the importance of tyre safety to drivers. Raising awareness is a job that never stops, and we are always grateful to organisations that spread the word about tyre safety to consumers through their own marketing efforts.”
To access The Motor Ombudsman’s information resources and tips on tyres, visit