Minimum tyre tread depth

What is the minimum depth of a tyre? The legal minimum tyre tread depth varies by each type of vehicle.

Type of vehicle: Minimum tread depth : Cars Goods vehicles (500kg) Trailers and caravans (500kg) At least 1. According to the law, the tyre tread depth must be at least 1. However, it’s important to note that this is the absolute minimum.

If the tread measurement is between 1. Research shows that it can take a car with 1. Tyre and safety experts believe the 1. Tests by UK technical organisation MIRA found that, once tyres are below 3mm, stopping distances increase dramatically. As well as the mimimum tread depth, it is also important to make sure that your tyres are free of any other defects.

Lumps, bumps and bulges could mean the tyre is structurally damage while any cut of tear bigger than 25mm, or 10% of the tyres width, can mean your tyres are not road legal. It is common knowledge that the minimum legal tread depth for all passenger car tires in Europe is 1. However, the extensive ADAC research proved that the minimum legal tread depth only describes the tire ’s margin of safety.

For summer tires, the remaining tread depth must be no less than mm, and for winter and all-season tires it must. In wet weather tyre tread grooves help to remove water from the contact patch between your tyres and the road surface meaning your car can brake, steer and accelerate properly.

UK Tyre Law : Tyre tread and the Law. The law requires car tyres to have a minimum tread depth of 1. To help you judge how much tread you have on your car tyres, manufacturers often mould tread bars at roughly 1. The minimum legal tyre tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1. So, as your tyre wears, its ability to grip the road decreases, meaning longer stopping distances and a higher risk of aquaplaning.

Although the legal minimum tread depth is only 1. MIRA shows that tyres with 3mm of tread have an average 25% better performance than those at 1. While the minimum legal tread depth for all passenger car tyres in Europe is 1. Winter tyres with less than mm tread depth in principle cease to be winter tyres and the legal wear limit is also laid down by law in some countries. This represents significant extra stopping distance, especially in wet conditions.

Some manufacturer ‘approved used’ schemes might include minimum tread depth requirements but in general a car sold by a dealer only has to be roadworthy – tyres would have to meet the legal minimum requirement but no more. For cars and vans the legal minimum tyre tread depth is 1. For motorbikes it must be a minimum of 1. It is important to note that not all new tyres come with the same tread depth.

The depth can be anything from 7-10mm but the average is around 8mm. Most new tyres will now come with an indicator between the treads, (a raised piece of rubber at the bottom of the groove) so if the surface.

Only 38% of LGV drivers know the correct minimum legal tread depth for their truck’s tyres, highlighting a need for further education within the industry. A survey carried out by Goodyear and the Freight Transport Association ’s (FTA) Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) found that although 92% of drivers check their tyres before each new journey they make, the majority were unable to identify. Anything less is illegal for use on a public road.

Check that there is a minimum tread depth of 1. A tyre ’s tread depth can be measured by using the handy pop-out tyre tread depth gauge attached to this leaflet (Figure 5). Always measure in the middle of the tyre surface, and not at the edges. Tyres also have a ‘ tread. How to check your tyre tread.

When you know what kind of tread you’re working with, you can more readily test the depth of your tread. There are several ways to check the depth of your tread, including: The penny test. At a minimum, your tyre tread needs to be 1. One of the easiest ways to test the depth is to compare your tread.

Legal limit UK) around three quarters of the tyre, so bear this in mind when your measuring. Using a tread depth gauge If you are using a tread depth gauge, you place it on the surface of the tyre and push the end down and “A needle” will stick down into one of the tyre grooves and you’ll be able to get the depth reading.

Because we believe this minimum depth is too low, and – like Continental – as members of TyreSafe – the UK tyre safety charity – we’re continuously campaigning to have this minimum tread depth level increased. Tread must be a certain depth depending on the type of vehicle: cars, light vans and light trailers - 1. What Is Motorcycle Tyre Tread Depth ? The ‘ tread ’ is the rubber that sits above the grooves on the tyre ’s surface.

The difference in height between the bottom of the groove and the top of the tread is known as the tread depth. Cars, light vans and light trailers MUST have a tread depth of at least 1. Caravans, camper vans, luggage and boat trailers may be temporarily imported into Germany without formality.

The tread of all the tyres on a motor vehicle and on a trailer must be at least 1. No inventory is required for normal camping equipment in caravans.