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The legal tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm on the centre three-quarters of the tyre. Car and van tires do not meet all requirements and therefore do not have to be grooved. If you plan to take your vehicle abroad, most countries require a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, such as the UK. We recommend changing your tires before each ride if the tread depth is up to 3 mm. Always remember how many miles you can drive. Few parts on a car are as important as our tires. They are the only point of contact between our cars and the road and are essential for safe braking and acceleration, control and driving quality. The most important points of the regulations regarding the condition of the tires are: Perhaps the easiest way to check if you are close to the legal limit is to look for tread wear indicators on your tires. These small rods, which are usually about 5 mm wide, span the base of the main grooves of the tire.

These are set to a low height, so once the tread surface wears down to a level similar to the indicators, you may find that it`s time to get your tires checked and probably replaced them. With this in mind, it`s important to make sure your tread depth meets regulatory requirements. Here`s everything you need to know about checking your tread depth. There are a number of risks associated with tread being close to or below the legal limit, and all of them mean you`re exposing yourself to risks on the road. Some of the most important are: Essentially, the rule is that the air pressure must be adapted to the use of the tire. Tire pressure recommendations are quoted in the vehicle manual and usually displayed on a poster somewhere on the vehicle itself. [C] The tyre has a cross-section greater than 25 mm or 10 per cent of the width of the cross-section of the tyre, whichever is greater, measured in any direction outside the tyre and deep enough to reach the position or chain. It is also required by law to ensure that car tires of different types are not mounted on opposite sides of the same axle. The two main types of tyres are radial and transverse and must not be mixed on the same axle.

Tire pressure is important for safety, as too few inflated tires can overheat, resulting in poor vehicle handling. Tire pressure must be changed as the vehicle load increases or decreases. Overpressure or underpressure on tires can wear them out prematurely, which means they need to be replaced sooner than expected. Incorrect pressures also increase the fuel consumption of the car and increase the cost of driving for the driver. These are custom tools that quickly measure the depth of a single tire groove. There are many quick and easy ways to check if a tyre is below the legal limit, but checks should be carried out regularly as a preventive measure. Simple and regular checks of your tyres will ensure that you are safe and legal when driving in the UK. Book a FREE safety inspection at one of our welcoming stores today. A deep tread also quickly diverts water from the rubber so that contact with the road is not lost. This makes tire tread depth essential when roads become wet and dangerous, as hydroplaning is prevented. If you want to know more about the correct tire pressure, you can contact our experts. The tread depth must be greater than 1.6 mm to be legal.

This must be the case for three-quarters of the middle of the tyre. The mixing of makes and samples of the same type is permitted depending on the type of vehicle and the manufacturer`s recommendations. Check your vehicle`s manual for details and tire mounting options, or ask your local Kwik Fit team for help. C&U determines the depth of the remaining tread at which tire use becomes illegal. This will be described in more detail later (note: the minimum tread depth is different for cars than for trucks) You can check how close you are to the legal limit for all tires by checking the tread wear indicators: The 20p test is a simple way, Quick and easy to check the tread pattern of your car`s wheels. Your car can also fail its technical inspection if the tires are damaged. These included nails in the tire, punctures, bulges and cracks. This is due to the risk of a tire bursting and as a result, your vehicle is considered unsafe until the tires are replaced. Living in the UK means regularly battling adverse weather conditions, so it`s best to check your tyres regularly to make sure they`re fit for use. But how often is it frequent? Daniel Bezer, tyre expert at TOTD, recommends: The right tread depth not only prevents aquaplaning, but also helps to shorten the braking distance on dry and wet roads.

This is an important safety feature because the shorter your braking distance, the less likely you are to be affected by an incident on the road. The condition of your tires should be checked regularly. They should be inspected visually for signs of damage such as cuts, fractures and abrasions. If treads have been penetrated by an object, they can often be repaired safely and inexpensively. When checking tires, look for stones or other objects stuck in the treads and check for damage. Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are projections inside the tread grooves that are intended to give a visual indication of the degree of tread wear. Remember: – Check the tread depth of all four tires – Check the interior, center and exterior tires. Once you have determined the correct tire pressure, each tire should be checked individually with a pressure gauge to determine if it needs to be inflated or drained. If you are involved in an accident and the car you are driving has illegal or bald tires, you need to be aware of the consequences. Driving with tires with a profile below the legal limit – or worse, bald – is dangerous. UK law requires your vehicle to be fitted with tyres that are roadworthy and fit for purpose. If you cannot see the outer strip on the part, your tires will be above the legal limit.

The difference in wet braking distance between a 3mm worn tyre and a 1.6mm worn tyre can be as much as 44%. There are 3 main areas related to tire law that every driver should be aware of, namely: For more information about tires, read our complete tire buying guide or our complete tire safety and maintenance guide. Your tire`s tread is designed to keep the tire in contact with the road. As your tire wears out, its ability to grip the road decreases, which means longer braking distances and a higher risk of aquaplaning. In heavy rain, each tire can move a gallon of water every second, which shows how hard tires work. The law is clear on the legal standards required in each of these areas to maintain vehicle safety. If the tire is flush with these, it is below the legal limit and must be replaced. One of the main purposes of the tire tread is to prevent aquaplaning or aquaplaning. Water on the road surface can reduce tire grip, but with the right tread depth, water won`t act as a barrier between your tire and the road. Instead, it escapes through the grooves of the tire. Just take a 20p piece and stick it into the grooves of the tire`s tread.

A tire tread forms the small grooves and burrs that run along the perimeter of a tire`s rubber surface. These may not seem like much, but they are absolutely necessary. “Performing basic but necessary tyre testing can mitigate many potential problems for drivers. This could include anything from avoiding delays and additional costs to cases of dangerous injuries. At TOTD, we recommend that you check your tires every few weeks and especially before long trips to minimize the risk of tire accidents. An independent study by the Motoring Industry Research Association (MIRA) showed that tyres with 3mm tread have on average 25% better performance than those with 1.6mm – which equates to an additional 8m braking distance in wet conditions! Keep in mind that with a tread depth of 3mm, only 1.4mm of usable tread remains!!! If you are not sure if the depth of your tread is at a safe level, you can use a handy tread depth indicator. These devices give you an accurate measurement for added peace of mind. Worn tyres mean that the only contact surface between you and the road is beyond its peak. A tire tread check begins with a thorough visual inspection. Start by turning the steering wheel to see the entire surface of the tread.

They look for signs of irregular wear that could affect one area of the tread more than another. If the tires wear evenly, you need to determine if you have enough tread on your tire. Book a free tire check A quick visual check of your tread depth can be done by simply looking at the wear indicators you find in the grooves of the tread pattern. However, a more accurate and reliable way is to use a depth gauge. It is small enough to fit in the glove compartment and gives an accurate measurement of the tread depth of your tires. Use a profile depth gauge – a tool that gives you a quick and easy-to-read measurement. Many manufacturers incorporate tread wear indicators into the tire at the 1.6 mm mark. If the surface of the tread rubber is at the same level as the turn signal, the tread depth is close to the legal limit and must be replaced immediately.

If the safety risks do not manifest themselves, will it perhaps be the risk of a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for a worn tyre? This also applies to tires. If all four tyres are worn below the legal limit, you risk losing your licence and facing a £10,000 fine. Book a free tire check and one of our qualified technicians will not only check the tread depth of your tire, but will also perform a pressure check and check for wear and damage. Tires with shallow tread depths also lose air pressure faster and are therefore even more dangerous on the road. Even if you make it a point to regularly check and adjust your tire pressure if you have a shallow tread depth, you may find that they drain faster than you can keep up.