Your tyres are what connect you and your car to the road surface. Consequently checking your tyres are in good condition and there is adequate tyre tread is very important to stay safe on the road. Doing a quick visual check periodically is easy to do and could be a life saver. We explain how you can identify worn tyres and what to do next.

What is tyre tread?

The tread of your tyre is designed to increase the grip your tyres can hold over the road surface. Especially in wet weather conditions when it helps to disperse water away from the contact patch between the tyre and road. When your tyre wears down, its ability to retain its grip on the road decreases, which means longer stopping distances and a greater risk of aquaplaning.

What is the minimum legal tyre tread depth?

In the UK and EU the minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6mm for passenger cars, this should be present all-round the central three-quarters of the tyre. Driving with a tyre with below minimum tyre tread in the UK can land you a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points, per tyre. So if all 4 tyres on your vehicle are worn too much you may be fined £10,000 and potentially you may lose your licence in the process. Aside from the legal limit, various tyre manufacturers and experts recommend having at least 3mm tread. Having adequate tyre tread can boost a tyre's ability to retain grip on the road surface and significantly decrease braking distances. Particularly in wet weather worn tyres are particularly hazardous.

How to check whether your tyre tread is within the legal limit

To check the tyre tread depth you will normally need either a tyre tread gauge or simply a 20 pence coin. Some tyres come with a built-in wear indicator which would require no tool to check. A 20p coin is used for this test as the outer edge is about 2mm. To gauge the tread depth take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves across the central three-quarters of the tyre. Your tyres will be above the legal limit if you can't see the band on the coin. However, if you can see the band on the coin, your tyres could be below the legal limit and are likely very unsafe. You should then get them inspected by a mechanic.