Our motoring correspondent Steph Savill runs Steyning-based FOXY Lady Drivers Club, the UK’s only motoring club for women. It includes a network of female-friendly garages, repairers, car dealers and dealerships that meet demanding standards. Here, she offers invaluable advice about safety.

Earlier this year, road safety research confirmed that more women drive on illegal and dangerous tyres than men. For this reason, I have compiled the following top ten tyre tips to help women appreciate the safety issues here.

- The condition of your tyres is the single most critical safety factor on your car. Tyres are also expensive to replace so it makes sense to look after them.

- Always buy the best tyres you can afford, reviewing wet braking performance ratings on new EU tyre labels.

- Premium tyres last longer than budget tyres. Always take professional and independent advice before buying cheap tyres as these can be a false economy.

- Your poorest tyre gives your overall tyre performance, ie matching top-of-the-range 3mm tread tyres on one axle won’t change your car’s tyre performance if you have budget tyres with 1.6mm tread on the other.

- Never mix tyres per axle, ie always fit the same tyres on the front or rear.

- To prevent tyre deterioration due to ageing and if your annual mileage is low, it may make sense to move partly worn rear tyres to the front axle, fitting new tyres to the rear.

- Whilst the legal minimum tyre tread is 1.6mm you can still feel the difference driving on 3mm tread – the less the tyre tread, the longer it takes your car to stop in the wet and in an emergency.

- Get into the habit of walking round your car on a regular basis to spot signs of tyre wear and tear, alloy damage or a slow puncture. Know what your tyre pressures should be and check them regularly; an under-inflated or over-inflated tyre will not only let you down when you need it most but it’ll wear out quicker than others.

- Would you know what to do if you were stranded on your own after a puncture? Does your car have a spare wheel? Do you know where any wheel-locking nut is? You might consider attending a local ladies garage evening to find out.

- Buy tyres from a FOXY Lady Approved female-friendly garage that has signed the FOXY Promise to ‘never overcharge, patronise or sell women anything they don’t need.’

If you have a story you’d like to share, email Steph at women actually@theargus.co.uk