As the only part of your car that actually grips the road, your tyres need to be in as good a condition as possible when driving.
As long as you know the legal requirements when it comes to tyre tread, it is easier than you might think to check the legality of your wheels. The lower the tread, the higher the risk of your tyres failing, and the higher the risk of skidding or aquaplaning due to a lower level of grip on the road.
Legal requirements in the UK are for a minimum tyre tread depth of 1.6 millimetres across 75% of the tyre. If caught with tread that is below the legal requirement, you can expect to face three points on your driving licence, and a fine of £2,500 for each tyre that is illegal.
Although the minimum legal requirement is tread of 1.6 millimetres, most vehicle manufacturers will recommend that you replace a tyre when it reaches 3 millimetres. This isn’t just so that garages can make more money on tyre sales, but for safety: in wet weather, for example, it can take a car with tyre tread of 1.6mm an extra 8 metres to stop at 50 miles per hour than a car with tyre tread of 3mm.
If you use your car on a daily basis, then it is best to check your tread levels at least every two weeks. To check your tyre tread, the best way is to use a dedicated tyre tread gauge. Use the gauge on every single tyre, and in multiple places – the lowest tread measurement is the one you should look at for each tyre. If your tyres are uneven, then take a reading from the most worn part of the tyre.
No tyre tread gauge? You can use a 20p piece instead. Insert a 20p coin into the most worn part of each tyre: if you can still see the outer rim of the coin, then your tyres need replacing.
Many tyres also now have a tread depth indicators built in, which can help you to see at a glance whether new tyres are needed.
If you have any doubts about whether your tyre tread is legal, then ask a specialist to check: it is better to be safe than sorry. Replacing your tyres may seem like an unwanted expense, but you’ll be improving your car’s safety, and avoiding the risk of three points on your driving licence and a hefty fine.
You may only have one tyre that needs replacing, but from a safety point of view, it is always best to replace tyres in pairs so that you have equal grip on both sides of the car. Poorly balanced tyres on each side of the car can have an impact on the vehicle’s stability – again, it isn’t just an excuse to get you to spend more. When replacing a pair of tyres, fit the new tyres to the rear axle: whether RWD, FWD or AWD, it is important that the rear wheels have the most traction, to keep you safe on the road.
If you’ve got any doubts about the condition of your tyres, pop into Arnold Tyres for free, “no strings attached”, expert advice or give us a call on 0115 926 8368.