Worn tyres fail more MOTs than almost anything else, and they're also one of the easiest things to stay on top of yourself. So before you book anything in, it's worth knowing what the law actually says and how to check your own tyres.

What's the legal tread limit in the UK?

For cars and vans the minimum is 1.6mm, measured across the middle three-quarters of the tyre and right the way round. That's the figure your MOT tester works to.

Get caught under it and it isn't a slap on the wrist. You're looking at a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. Four bald tyres could cost you your licence before you've even thought about the danger of it.

The 20p test

You don't need a gauge for a rough check. Take a 20p coin and push it into one of the main grooves. If the outer band of the coin disappears into the tread, you've got plenty left. If you can still see that band, your tread is getting low and it's worth having the tyre looked at.

Try it in a few spots across the tyre and at different points around it, because tyres rarely wear evenly.

Why we'd change them before 1.6mm

1.6mm is the legal floor, not a sensible target. Once you drop under about 3mm a tyre starts to struggle in the wet, and stopping distances climb quickly from there. By the time you're at the limit your car can need several extra car lengths to pull up on a wet road.

Round here that matters more than most places. Between the rain and the greasy surfaces up over the tops towards Pendle, you want as much grip as you can get for a good chunk of the year. We'd sooner tell someone their tyres have a couple of months left in them than watch them run right down to the wire.

Other reasons to replace a tyre

Even with legal tread, get a tyre changed if you notice:

  • One edge wearing faster than the rest, which usually points back to your wheel alignment or your pressures
  • Cracking or a bulge in the sidewall
  • A nail or screw in it, though don't panic, we can often do a proper puncture repair rather than replace the whole thing
  • Age. Rubber goes hard over the years even when the tread still looks fine

Not sure? Pop in

If you're not certain where your tyres stand, bring the car down and we'll check the tread and general condition for nothing. If they do need doing we fit new tyres while you wait at the workshop on Rushworth Street East. Give us a ring first if you want to be sure we've got your size in.