Jun 30,2017
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How to Tell If Your Tyre Tread is Legal
Checking that your tyre tread meets the legal requirements is by far the most important check you make on your car. Driving on a tyre below the legal minimum requirement is not only a danger to yourself but a danger to all other drivers on the road. Your car needs to be fitted with the correct type and size of tyre for the purpose of your type of car and driving.
Current UK Law
UK law requires all tyre tread must be above 1.6mm deep across ¾ of the tread around the circumference of the entire tyre, however, it is highly advised by vehicle manufacturers that tyres are changed once the tyre tread is below 3mm deep. If you’re caught driving on a bald tyre or a tyre with a tread below 1.6mm, you could be faced with a £2,500 fine and receive three points on your license – and that’s per tyre. If all four tyres do not meet legal requirements then you could be facing a £10,000 fine and will lose your license.
Braking Distances
Braking can be dramatically compromised depending on the depth of your tread. To put this into perspective – in wet weather, a tyre with 1.6mm depth takes an extra two car lengths to stop at 50mp than a tyre with 3mm depth. It’s important to be proactive and check your tyre tread regularly, ensuring your tyres are replaced once they are less than the 3mm depth recommended by manufacturers. We have a huge selection of new tyres available to help you drive safely.
20p Trick
One quick and simple way of checking if your tyre tread meets the legal requirements is by using the 20p method. Simply place a 20p into the main tread groove of the tyre, if the outer ring of the 20p is visible above the tread then your tyre does not meet the legal requirements. If the outer ring of the 20p is hidden then your tyre is safe to drive on, however, it might be worth replacing for your own safety.
If you’re uncertain whether your tyre tread meets the legal requirements then please contact Longbridge Tyres on 0121 457 7582 or fill out our contact form and one of our friendly team members will be happy to help.
