With the weather as snowy and icy as it is at the moment, we thought it would be a good time to look at how to check tyre tread on your car. One of the most common reasons for MOT failure is tyres and as much as we will always check them for you here, it is a really simple job that you can do yourself on a regular basis.
Tyre Tread Law in the UK
The Highway Code states that:
Tyres MUST be correctly inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification for the load being carried. Always refer to the vehicle’s handbook or data. Tyres should also be free from certain cuts and other defects. Cars, light vans and light trailers MUST have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.
Other vehicles have different requirements so if you’re driving one of those, click through the link above to the Highway Code and check your limits there.
Your tyres have to be fit for purpose as well as having the legal tread mentioned – the AA defines this as
Fit for purpose means that a tyre must:
- be compatible with the types of tyres fitted to the other wheels
- not have any lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of the structure.
- not have a cut or tear in excess of 25mm or 10% of the sectional width of the tyre, whichever is the greater, and which is deep enough to reach the ply or cord.
- not have any part of the ply or cord exposed
How to Check Tyre Tread
Although the legal limit is 1.6mm, the point at which you should have your tyres checked is when the tread is 3mm. The easiest way to test this is with a very technical piece of equipment… a 20p coin.
Although the stats are little out of date, this video by Quentin Wilson tells you all you need to know.
The Penalties
Having tyres that are low on tread (even if they’re legal) increase your stopping distances, particularly if you’re driving on smooth concrete surfaces, even in the dry. With the weather we’ve got at the moment, these distances will be even longer, particularly on untreated roads. Quite simply, driving with tyres with even a just legal tread puts the lives of you, your passengers and other road users at risk.
If you’re stopped by the Police and found to have illegal tyres, it can be dealt with by a Fixed Penalty Notice or the Officer may refer the case to Court for prosecution. If the owner of the car is not driving it at the time, both the owner and the driver may be summonsed.
The maximum penalty that can be handed down in court for driving a car with a defective tyre is £2500 and 3 penalty points (there are situations where this fine can be as high as £5000 per tyre). This penalty can be given for each tyre that is defective so if all 4 tyres fail to meet legal requirements, the fine could be as high as £10,000 and 12 penalty points – disqualification from driving. Even without all tyres being defective, disqualification is still possible in certain circumstances.
If you’re not sure about your tyres, please do pop in and we’ll be happy to check them out for you – we like keeping our drivers safe on the road, especially at this time of year.