Partner Insights

Tyre Wall of Shame launches with images from ‘The Tyre Lady’ Sophie Lyden

Published:
August 27, 2025
Author:
James Lockwood
Tyre Wall of Shame: TyreSafe highlights illegal, unsafe tyres across the UK.

TyreSafe has launched the Tyre Wall of Shame, a shareable gallery of real-world tyre faults spotted by supporters across the UK.

Curated with contributions from depot manager and safety advocate Sophie Lyden (‘The Tyre Lady’), the images show bald, cracked, damaged and severely underinflated tyres. The campaign aims to turn social posts into a practical reminder for drivers to check air pressure, condition and tread depth every month.

Unsafe tyres undermine braking, steering and stability. Two key reminders:

  • UK law: Cars, light vans and light trailers must have at least 1.6mm tread across the central three-quarters around the full circumference.
  • Casualty risk: Tyre defects cause, on average, over 150 deaths or serious injuries a year, reinforcing the need for regular checks.

View the Tyre Wall of Shame here - https://www.tyresafe.org/road-safety/tyre-wall-of-shame/

The Role of ‘The Tyre Lady’

Sophie Lyden is a multi-award-winning advocate, founder of Fresh Drivers UK and depot manager at Westgate Tyres in Lancashire. Her frontline photos power the Tyre Wall of Shame, showing the defects technicians encounter daily and why quick inspections can prevent breakdowns, fines and collisions.

How the Industry Can Use the Tyre Wall of Shame

  • Educate customers at the counter or on social media with clear examples of illegal tread, damage and underinflation.
  • Signpost monthly checks: air pressure, tyre condition and tread depth.
  • Reinforce best practice with local campaigns and free safety checks during peak travel periods, as seen in recent industry initiatives.

Image Use and Credit

Images supplied by Sophie Lyden for TyreSafe’s Tyre Wall of Shame are licensed non-exclusively and royalty-free for non-commercial, educational and awareness use related to tyre and vehicle safety.

Copyright remains with Sophie Lyden. Please credit: Photo: Sophie Lyden / Credit: Sophie Lyden.

Follow Sophie

We encourage you to follow Sophie and learn more from her valuable insights on her various social media channels;

Tagged with: Tyre Wall of Shame, TyreSafe, tyre safety, Sophie Lyden, illegal tyres, tyre tread depth, underinflated tyres, cracked tyres, tyre checks, Westgate Tyres, Fresh Drivers UK, road safety

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