Your Tyres & The Law

WHEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY TYRES AND WHAT IS THE LAW?

The minimum legal tread depth for cars, light vans (not exceeding 3,500 kg gross weight) and light trailers is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre tread and in a continuous circumference around the whole of the tyre. There are tread wear indicators moulded into the base of the tread grooves which show the minimum depth. These indicators can be found by looking at the shoulder of the tyre, TWI (tread wear indicator) or a Michelin man logo can be found here this indicates the position across the tyre where they can be found. (Contact our team if you need help with this)

Although the law states the minimum depth is 1.6mm it is highly recommended to change your tyres at 3mm as tyres with 3mm perform around 25% better than tyres with the legal minimum. In one test a vehicle with new tyres (8mm) stopped an amazing 13 meters (42.25ft) before a car with tyres of 1.6mm.

(Find out more about the 3mm campaign at www.3mmtyres.co.uk)

The law on the condition of tyres is more than just minimum tread depth, the law requires you to take appropriate care of your tyres. Here are some of the tyre laws that must be followed:

• Tyres must be suitable (i.e. of the correct type and size) for the use to which the vehicle is being put and must be inflated to the vehicle or tyre manufacturers recommended pressures.
• Tyres of different construction types must not be fitted to opposite wheels of the vehicle (e.g. radial tyres must not be fitted to a wheel on the same axle as wheels already fitted with cross-ply tyres and vice versa. If cross-ply tyres and radial are to be used on the same vehicle the cross-ply tyres must be fitted to the front and the radial to the rear.
• No tyre must have a break in its fabric or a cut deep enough to reach the body cords. No cut must be more than 25mm or 10% of the tyre�s section width in length, whichever is greater.
• There must be no lump, bulge of tear caused by separation or partial fracture of its structure, neither must any portion of the ply or cord structure be exposed.

THE PENALTIES FOR HAVING ILLEGAL TYRES ARE CURRENTLY UP TO A £2,500 FINE AND 3 PENALTY POINTS PER TYRE!