Tyre Tread Safety: Essential Checks and Legal Requirements
Maintaining the correct tyre tread depth is crucial for your safety and vehicle performance. Surprisingly, tyre tread depth is one of the most common reasons for MOT failures, but with regular checks, you can avoid this issue and keep your car roadworthy keeping yourself and other road users safe and preventing costly fines.
Why Tyre Tread Depth Matters
Tyres are the only part of your car that makes contact with the road, meaning their condition directly affects your safety. Worn tyres can reduce grip, increase stopping distances, and compromise handling, especially in wet or icy conditions.
Driving with tyres below the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm is not only dangerous but can also lead to severe penalties. If stopped by the police, you could face a hefty fine per tyre and points on your licence if all four tyres you could be summoned to court and even lose your licence—a costly consequence for neglecting a simple check.
How to Check Tyre Tread Depth at Home
Checking your tyre tread depth is quick, easy, and should be done every month, particularly as the tread approaches 3–4mm, where performance starts to deteriorate. Here’s how you can check your tyres at home:
- Use a Tyre Tread Gauge
A tyre tread gauge is a reliable and inexpensive tool available from local car parts suppliers. It allows you to measure the depth accurately across the entire tyre surface, ensuring compliance with legal standards. - The 20p Tyre Test
The 20p test is the simplest way to check your tyre tread. Insert a 20p coin into the grooves of your tyre tread. The outer band of a 20p coin measures approximately 2mm. If you can see any part of the outer band when the coin is in the groove, your tread depth is below the legal limit, and it’s time to replace your tyres. This quick test is an easy way to ensure your tyres meet the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm
Check Across the Tyre
Don’t just check the edges; ensure you measure the tread depth across the entire tyre width. Uneven wear could indicate other issues, such as wheel misalignment or incorrect tyre pressure, which also need addressing.
Stay Safe and Roadworthy
By regularly checking your tyre tread, you can avoid costly fines, MOT failures, and, more importantly, dangerous driving conditions. Consider winter tyres for cold weather. If you notice your tyres are worn or uneven, it’s time to replace them.
At Bartlett Automotive, we offer tyre checks, replacements, and expert advice to ensure your car stays safe and compliant. Visit our Huntingdon or Peterborough garage for professional assistance and high-quality tyres. Stay road-ready—contact us today!
