Watch this helpful TyreSafe video for more information on tread depth. But if the tires even show wear, he believes that a tire with a tread depth of 4/32 inches still has wear. For more information on tires, read our complete guide to buying tires or our complete guide to tire safety and maintenance. The legal tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm on the centre three-quarters of the tyre. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm on a continuous tread that covers the central three-quarters of the tread width and bypasses its entire circumference. Temporary-use spare tires are often different in size than standard road tires and usage restrictions apply. Failure to follow the instructions in the vehicle manual and/or on the spare wheel or tire sidewall can have serious consequences. Do not exceed the recommended speed limit when using a spare tire for temporary use and respect the minimum air pressure. If the tire is flush with these, it is below the legal limit and must be replaced. Tire treads are designed to provide good grip on wet roads, but this usually decreases as a tire`s tread wears out or water depth increases. The driver must take this into account and reduce his speed accordingly in wet conditions. Each of these grooves provides grip on the road surface, allowing you to brake and maneuver safely.
As tread depth decreases, a tire`s performance deteriorates, making it difficult to transfer traction efficiently to the road. Leave your tires excessively worn and you run the risk of having longer braking distances and less control. These are custom tools that quickly measure the depth of a single tire groove. In its November issue, Consumer Reports recommended that consumers use a quarter instead of a penny to measure tread depth — a change that doubles the depth at which car owners should consider new tires from 2/32 to 4/32 inches. Tire dealers stated that many tires needed to be replaced long before they reached the 2/32-inch tread depth. Be careful when measuring the depth of your tread. Place the penny in several places around the tire. It is not uncommon to have uneven wear of the profile. Measuring in multiple places will compensate for this. No. Neither repairs to externally applied caps nor liquid sealants can be considered permanent repairs. Tyre manufacturers cannot be held responsible for problems arising from their use.
For repairs on run-flat self-supporting tires, contact the respective tire manufacturer. The legal minimum limit is 2/32 inches. This does not mean that tires are absolutely safe if they still have a 3/32 tread. This is simply the limit at which you fail your state security inspection. Your tires become more and more dangerous as the tread wears out. Therefore, Mr. Dawson of Tire Source preferred CR to promote the minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch rather than the tire industry. “In my opinion, this is equivalent to the toothbrush manufacturer saying you should replace your toothbrushes every 30 days. It sounds selfish. The fact that a mainstream publication is recommended (minimum tread depth) carries more weight than if we, as a tire industry, said so.
If you can`t see the outer strip on the part, your tires will be above the legal limit. There is no national law regulating minimum tread depth, but 42 states consider 2/32 inches to be the legal minimum tread depth. California and Idaho consider 1/32 a minimum, and Arkansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina and West Virginia do not have tread depth standards. Driving with tires with a profile below the legal limit – or worse, bald – is dangerous. The tread depth must be greater than 1.6 mm to be legal. This must be the case for three-quarters of the middle of the tyre. If you don`t have a tire tread depth gauge, you can check the tread wear indicators (TWI) or tire wear bars. These are evenly distributed through the main grooves of the tyre`s tread and allow for visual reading. In some cases, a small triangular marker indicates the position of the profile wear indicator.
If the turn signal is aligned with the tread level, the tire must be replaced. Tyre and safety experts believe that the legal minimum of 1.6mm is not enough to ensure safety – most recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm for tyre changes. However, driving with dangerous or faulty tyres also carries the risk of a fine of up to £2,500 and three points on their licence. It`s not just the safety of your tires that affects tread depth – many insurance policies become invalid if your tires are deemed illegal, as they could be the cause of an accident. If you are caught on tyres with a tread of less than 1.6mm, you can expect three points on your driving licence and a £2,500 fine for any tyre in your vehicle below the legal tread depth. While UK Tyre Law states that a wheel must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, most automotive experts would recommend replacing a tyre once the tread reaches 2-3mm. This is confirmed by the RoSPA study, which showed that the braking distance on smooth concrete increases by 44.6% to the legal minimum tread depth. Without sufficient tread depth, your tires may not function properly in wet conditions, reducing your safety on the road. It is therefore advisable to consider replacing your tires well before they reach the legal minimum. In addition, drivers whose tyres do not meet the minimum tread depth requirements face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.