What is classed as an illegal tyre?

To help you judge how much tread you have on your car tyres, manufacturers often mould tread bars at roughly 1.6mm. If you can see these bars your tyres are about to become illegal and unsafe. However, for optimum safety, most manufacturers recommend that your tyres are changed at 3mm.

What makes a tyre illegal UK?

In the UK, the tyre law states that the minimum tread depth is 1.6mm - so you should consider changing your tyres to around 3mm. However, if your tyres do fall below 1.6mm, these are then classed as illegal tyres.

How do I know if my tires are road legal?

Place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If you can't see the raised edge around the coin, your tyre's tread is likely greater than 1.6mm and, therefore, legal. If, on the other hand, the outer band is visible when inserted, your tyre could be unsafe and require professional inspection.

What tyre damage is acceptable?

If a tyre's treads are worn down, they become actively dangerous, which is why there's a legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. By comparison, most brand new tyres come with a tread of a maximum of 8mm, and manufacturers, industry experts and the DVLA recommend a minimum tyre tread depth of 3mm before replacing them.

How do I check if my tyres are legal UK?

The 20p test is a simple, quick and easy way of checking the tyre tread of your car's wheels. Just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can't see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.

Are your tyres legal and safe?

Is 2 mm tyre tread legal?

The legal limit of 1.6mm is reached when the tyre is worn to the level of the tread wear indicators in the main groove — as soon as this happens, the tyre should be replaced.

How many miles will 3mm tread last?

With all the possible variables taken into account, the minimum average period 3mm of tyre tread depth will last before it reaches the legal limit of 1.6mm is between would be 10,000-20,000 miles but it could be considerably more than that.

What tyre damage will fail an MOT?

So, what are the MOT tyre requirements? Tyres with tread depth lower than 1.6mm is illegal and will result in an MOT fail.

Is cracked tyres an MOT failure?

Are cracked tyres an MOT failure? An MOT test will involve all four tyres being checked for damage and general wear and tear. When you take your car for its test, the tyres should have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm (the legal minimum) and there shouldn't be any tears, bulges, or cracks around the tyre.

What does a bad tyre look like?

4: The Tread Wear Indicator Bar

These bars, invisible or barely visible when the tires are new, gradually begin to appear as the tread wears down. They appear as flat rubber bars running perpendicular to the direction of the tread itself. If more than one or two of these are visible on a tire, the tread is getting low.

Is 6mm tyre tread OK?

Replacing tyres

If the tread depth on your tyres is at or below 1.6mm, you will need to replace your tyres – although we'd advise that you change them before they get to this level.

Is 5mm tyre tread OK?

Tread wear indicators

These are usually small bars, about 5mm wide, built into the base of the tyre's main grooves. If the tyre tread is level with the top of the wear indicator, it means your tyres have reached the legal limit of 1.6mm. When tyres are worn to this level, they need to be replaced.

What is a bald tyre?

A bald tyre is a tyre with significantly worn treads. Tyre treads provide a good grip on the road and a reliable stopping distance. But if you try and drive with a bald tyre, you'll skid, slide, and it'll take a terrifyingly long time to brake.

Is 3mm tyre tread OK?

Most tyre makers say that it's safer to change your tyres when the tread gets down to 3mm. This is because as the tread wears down further, its ability to disperse the water and therefore grip a wet surface disappears.

Can I drive with illegal tyres?

Illegal tyres may incur a fine and penalty points. You could be prosecuted and your car insurance invalidated. Obviously, driving with unfit/bald tyres is dangerous. It can put you and other motorists at risk.

Are bald edges on tyres illegal?

The law says the tyre must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference. So, the inner and outre edges can be devoid of tread i.e. 'bald' in usual language so long as the central part has a minimum of 1.6mm.

What does small cracks in tires mean?

Cracks are a sign that the rubber in your tires is starting to break down. This happens naturally due to exposure to UV light, oils, chemicals, and other elements that slowly break down compounds and reduce the rubber's flexibility over time. As this flexibility declines, cracks develop.

Should I change my tyres if they are cracking?

Yes, cracked tyres should be replaced as soon as possible. It's a sign that there's something wrong with the tyre, due to either degradation over time, air pressure, or various environmental factors. While not a legal requirement, it's recommended that you carry a spare tyre (and the tools to change it) in the vehicle.

How long should tyres last before cracking?

Usually, the tyre tread wears down quicker than that. For older tyres, you can: Check for signs of cracking on the sidewalls of tyres 4 or 5 years old if your car's parked outside. Replace them if the cracking's severe.

Will car pass MOT with nail in tyre?

Any sharp object embedded in your tyre, including nails, will cause your car to fail its MOT. This is due to the tyre being punctured which could lead to a blowout. This is deemed unsafe and would make your car illegal to drive without having it repaired or replaced.

Do tyres have to match for MOT?

It's not illegal to have tyres from different manufacturers fitted to your car. However, you will fail the MOT if you have tyres of two different sizes fitted across the same axle. That's because this affects the stability and handling of the car as badly as if you were driving on one new tyre and one bald one.

Can under inflated tyres fail MOT?

Under inflated tyres have an uneven contact patch which means that your gripping capabilities are significantly affected. And if your vehicle is found to have a faulty or failed tyre pressure monitoring system, this will cause you to fail your MOT.

At what mm should tires be replaced?

New tires have an average tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters (10/32 to 11/32 inches). As you drive, the tread will wear down. A tire with a tread depth below 1.6 millimeters (2/32 inches) lacks grip.

Is 4mm good for tires?

For summer tires, the remaining tread depth must be no less than 3 mm, and for winter and all-season tires it must be no less than 4 mm. Smaller tread depth may become critical on wet pavement, slush or snow.

What tread depth is unsafe?

The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they reach 2/32”, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth. The idea of the penny test is to check whether you've hit the 2/32” threshold. Here's how it works: Place a penny between the tread ribs on your tire.