Our latest online poll showed that over half of you have made modifications to your 4x4s and a further 28% of you would like to. That’s a serious number of 4×4 enthusiasts either carrying out modifications themselves or sourcing professionals to enhance the performance, handling and look of their vehicles. Not surprisingly, modifying 4x4s has been steadily growing in popularity, especially with the increase in green-laning which has led to more owners adding under-body protection, raised suspension and so on.

The most popular modifications? Well, larger tyres are an obvious one along with shocks and lift kits, but there are also the cosmetics modifications to think about. Here the choice is equally endless ranging from leather interiors to cool wheels.

With tyres so important when it comes to road safety it’s perhaps surprising that 12% of UK drivers never check their tyres for tread depth. On the positive, though, that means that almost 90% of us are doing these vital checks.

To help www.mytyres.co.uk has put together this simple tyre safety check list to ensure that tyres are fit for purpose.

1. Ensure that all tyres, including the spare, have at least 2.5/3.00 mm of tread – the law requires a minimum of 1.6 mm but tyre experts recommend a greater level of tread depth for maximum safety. Should motorists not have a tread depth gauge handy then check the sidewall for the letters TWI (Tread Wear Indicator), adjacent to this in the bottom of the tread are blocks of rubber set at 1.6 mm, if these blocks are flush with the tread, then the tyre needs to be replaced.

2. Check and adjust tyre pressures against the manufacturer’s handbook recommendations. Incorrect tyre pressures increase wear and use more fuel and produce more CO₂ emissions.

3. Check for uneven tyre wear which can be caused by tyres/wheel alignment out of line.

4. Clean dirt from around the valve and fit dust caps all round.

5. If whilst driving, the driver experiences vibration, wheel wobble or discovers patchy tyre wear, then have the front tyres checked for balance.

It’s great news to read that Kia has won Car of the Year in a recent online awards. This really does show the shift in opinion about 4x4s that one has come out on top when up against all types of car. This is a vehicle that looks good, performs well, has loads of kit and offers that incredible seven year warranty. It’s no surprise that it’s gone down a storm!

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It seems like a crazy idea, but 4x4s are still being stolen to order. Especially high spec vehicles, which thieves can then pass on to buyers with large sums of money changing hands. The worrying thing is that, in some cases, the traditional ways to ensure the security of your 4×4 are pointless – thieves are actually breaking into people’s homes to locate the keys and they can then simply drive away with your pride and joy perfectly intact and ready to sell on.

The advice given by police is simply to keep your keys safe and out of sight and don’t leave cash, bags and wallets lying around. Plus, obviously, keep all accessible doors and windows closed and locked. It’s very unlikely this will happen to you, but it’s best to be aware of the dangers… whether you are out and about in your 4×4 or have it parked outside your home.

It’s good news that 4×4 pick-up prices are on the up (see the story here), but of course it’s better news for those selling than those buying. What it does reflect, though, is the changing in attitude to 4x4s. Although they fell hugely out of favour for a time the industry has seen a resurgence in popularity, and not just in pick-ups.

Families, for one, are seeing the benefits of owning a 4×4 and many a Porsche Cayenne is seen in the supermarket car park with various children climbing out. Of course this interest in 4x4s means prices go up, but we can’t argue with the fact that we’d prefer to see 4x4s in demand. Of course, who knows what the future holds so let’s enjoy it while we can… whether a family SUV or serious off-roader.

While reading through the latest forum posts on a 4×4 website one particular discussion caught my eye. It was a request for off-roaders to give their views for BBC FOUR observational documentary series about the National Parks. The BBC series will be asking “who are the National Parks for?” and will include a look at the differences in opinion between off-roaders and ramblers/local community in the Peak District.

Many local communities fear that off-road motoring is literally wearing away parts of the Peak District, and other Parks, with ancient trails being ruined and top soil stripped away, which makes areas impassable for horses and a struggle for hikers to climb. I should point out at this point that it is not just 4x4s that are being blamed for problems in National Parks but motorcycles too.

It will be interesting to watch the programme when it airs to see the damage that this off-roading is causing and to find out who is guilty of not caring for our environment. To say that all off-roaders recklessly use our National Parks without a thought for the damage they might be doing is clearly not true, but if a small group of thoughtless drivers are giving other 4×4 users and motorcyclists a bad name we want to know who they are.