How to stay safe with melting roads and heavy loads

DUNLOP is encouraging motorists across the UK to carry out essential vehicle checks before setting off on their summer holidays. This comes in the wake of successive heatwaves and unusually high temperatures across the UK, which have even left some road surfaces melting in the sunshine. 

Whether for a long drive to a holiday destination, a short hop to the airport, or shuttling kids between home and holiday camps, August is a major month for road travel. And DUNLOP today reminds drivers that hot road surfaces, heavily loaded vehicles and long motorway journeys can all place extra strain on tyres.

Combined with a full complement of passengers, a boot-load of holiday luggage, roof boxes, bike racks and extended journeys, these conditions can contribute to accelerated tyre wear and increase the importance of ensuring tyres are correctly maintained. Pre-trip safety checks have never been more important.

Mapped: the UK roads deteriorating in the 2026 heatwaves
The UK’s recent heatwaves have pushed road surface temperatures well above ambient air temperatures, increasing the demands placed on tyres during everyday driving. Road surface temperatures in some parts of the country have reached between 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, the point at which bitumen starts to soften – and can even stick to tyres.

DUNLOP has also collated reports of the UK roads that have been worst affected by the recent summer heatwaves, where parts of the road surface have deteriorated in the extreme heat. These are five British roads where the road surface has been affected by soaring temperatures:

• A143, Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
• A12, Wickham Market and near Yoxford, Suffolk
• B6362, Lauder to Stow, Berwickshire/Midlothian
• A30, East Chinnock to Haselbury Plucknett, Somerset
• A3, Butser to Horndean, Hampshire

Essential checks before travelling

Modern summer tyres are designed to operate across a wide range of temperatures and conditions, and perform best at temperatutes above 7 degrees Celsius. But as air and road temperatures have soared, even the most durable tyre can be put under greater pressure.

DUNLOP is therefore encouraging motorists to take just a few minutes to inspect their tyres and cars as the holiday period gets underway.

Drivers should ensure:

• Tyres are inflated to the pressures recommended by the car manufacturer
• Tyre pressures are adjusted if the vehicle is carrying heavy luggage or additional passengers
• Tyres and wheels are inspected for cuts, bulges, abrasions, cracks or impact damage
• There are no signs of a pressure loss or slow puncture
• Tread depth remains comfortably above the 1.6mm legal minimum requirement
• There are no stones or other objects lodged in the tread
• Vehicle oil, coolant and windscreen washer fluid levels are topped up
• The vehicle isn’t overloaded beyond the manufacturer’s recommended limits

A timely reminder after recent heatwaves

Sven Boetzel, technical and service engineer at Dunlop Tyre Europe, said: “Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, so checking their condition can be critical to safety, especially during the summer holidays. After recent heatwaves in the UK and across Europe, and possibly with more to come, drivers need to take extra care and make sure their tyres are properly maintained before travelling.

“Checking tyre pressures, inspecting tyres for damage, and ensuring your vehicle is carrying the correct load can all help improve safety and provide peace of mind before setting off on holiday. With long journeys and heavily loaded vehicles, driving can be stressful enough at this time of year. These checks just take a few minutes and could prevent a much larger headache further down the line.

“If drivers spot any signs of damage, unusual wear or pressure loss, they should seek advice from a tyre specialist before continuing their journey.”

DUNLOP also advises drivers to pay attention to uneven tread wear, which can indicate wheel alignment or suspension issues, and to replace any tyre showing visible signs of deterioration or damage.

With millions of families expected to travel by car throughout the summer, a quick vehicle inspection a few days before departure can help drivers enjoy a safer and more comfortable journey.