What Is Legal Tyre Tread In the UK And Why Is It Important?

Mobile Tyre Fitting Hillingdon

According to UK legislation, the tyres on your car must be both roadworthy and appropriate for the intended use.

This entails selecting the appropriate Cheap Tyres Hillingdon and making sure they are safe from damage. Additionally, make sure the tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure specified by the manufacturer. Learn more about the fundamentals of tyre law below.

Why is tyre tread such a big deal?

When you drive on worn tyres, your car's surface area of contact with the road is reduced. Without a doubt, this might lead to expensive wheel damage or, worse still, a deadly collision. Recall that the purpose of tyre tread is to maintain your tyres' continuous contact with the road. Your tyres' actual ability to grip the road is greatly reduced as they get older. Longer stopping distances are another consequence, and the chance of aquaplaning increases.

What is the maximum permissible tread depth?

The minimum tread depth allowed by law on your tyres is 1.6 millimetres, which must span the middle ¾ of the tread and the entire circumference of the tyre.

It is advised that you replace your car's tyres before the legal limit is reached for safety reasons. Replacement is advised by many automakers at 3 millimetres because stopping distances start to significantly increase below this depth. If your tread is 1.6 millimetres in wet weather instead of 3 millimetres, you will need to stop at 50 mph for an additional two car lengths (8 metres).

What other routine tyre inspections should be carried out?

It's crucial to confirm that your tyres are defect-free in addition to meeting the minimum tread depth. Bulges, lumps and bumps may indicate structural damage to the tyre, and any cut or tear larger than 25 mm, or 10% of the tire's width, may indicate that your tyres are not legal for use on public roads. The same holds true if there is any exposed ply or cord on the tyre.

Is it possible to mix different tyre types?

Additionally, it is mandated by law to prevent the installation of automobile tyres with disparate construction types on opposing sides of the same axle. On the same axle, the two primary tyre types—radial and cross-ply—must not be combined.

It is acceptable to combine brands and patterns of the same construction type, subject to the manufacturer's recommendation and the type of vehicle. See the handbook for your car for information on tyre options and fitment.

How to test your tread depth

Treadwear indicators

Finding the tread wear indicators on your tyres may be the simplest method to determine if you are approaching the legal limit. These tiny bars, which are often 5 mm wide, cross the base of the primary grooves on the tyre. Because these are positioned low, you can tell when your tyres need to be checked and possibly replaced when the tread's surface starts to show signs of wear on par with the indicators.

20p Test

The 20p test can also be used to determine your tread depth. One easy way to check if the tread depth of a tyre is greater than the legal limit is to insert a 20p coin into the tire's grooves. Since a 20p coin's outer rim is only slightly wider than 3mm, the tyre is above the permitted tread limit as long as the rim is not visible when the coin is inserted.

How soon do tyres become worn down?

The rate at which your tyres will wear depends on several factors. These include the number of times you drive, the type of driving you do, and the state of the roads. It is noteworthy to mention that your automobile may be more vulnerable to tyre punctures even if it has been designated a SORN or has been left inactive for an extended period of time.

How can you determine whether your tyres need to be replaced?

Maintaining your tyres on a regular basis is crucial to your safety when driving. You must physically inspect your tyres and clear any debris from them in order to determine whether they need to be replaced. You could have a tyre puncture if you see any rips, tears, or bulges in the tread of your tyre. Regularly losing tyre pressure might indicate a malfunctioning valve or even a gradual puncture. The 20p test may be used by Mobile Tyre Fitting Hillingdon assess the depth of the tyre tread by checking the tread.

Consequences of using the wrong tyres

Numerous consequences may arise from having tyres that are either the incorrect size or fall short of the required standard of roadworthiness. First of all, you can receive a fine or have your automobile towed if the authorities check it. An officer may even provide evidence to support a prosecution or immediately issue a fixed penalty notice to you. A faulty tyre may, at most, result in fines of £2,500 and three points on your licence. This may go up to £5,000 for cars that can carry more than eight passengers or items.

But since these fees are for each tyre, if more than one tyre is in violation of UK laws, the fines will accumulate. It is also important to remember that this procedure allows for the summoning of the vehicle's owner as well as the driver, if they are two separate persons.