UK drivers risk fines of up to £10,000 and potential driving bans if their tyres fall below the legal tread depth, but simple checks can help avoid these penalties. Online tyre retailer Blackcircles reports that over a quarter of drivers have bought pre-owned vehicles without checking the tyres carefully enough.
Legal tyre tread depth rules
In the UK, the legal minimum tyre tread depth for cars, vans and light trailers is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, running continuously around the entire circumference of the tyre. If police find tyres below this standard, fines can accumulate depending on how many tyres fail to meet the requirement.
Drivers face fines of up to £2,500 per illegal tyre, meaning four defective tyres could result in penalties totalling £10,000. Each tyre beneath the limit also adds three penalty points to a licence, and four tyres could immediately result in 12 points, which can trigger a driving ban.
How to test tyre tread depth
Tread depth gauges offer accurate measurements to the millimetre and can be purchased for £10 or less from retailers such as Amazon, Argos or Halfords. For a cheaper option, drivers can use the 20p method, which involves placing a 20p coin into the primary tread grooves and checking whether the outer rim of the coin remains visible.
Because of the coin's consistent border, a visible rim can indicate that the tread depth may be below the legal threshold and should be verified with an appropriate gauge. James Harding, a tyre specialist at Blackcircles, said: "Worryingly, many motorists don't regularly check the condition of their vehicle's tyres and are unaware of the consequences they could face if they don't meet the legal requirements. Having illegal tyres not only poses a risk to the driver of the vehicle but also to other motorists and pedestrians."
Harding added: "If your car has a tread depth lower than the legal requirement of 1.6mm, the amount of grip the vehicle has on the road is reduced, hindering the vehicle's ability to come to a hard stop, risking an accident. As well as posing harm to yourself and others, having illegal car tyres could also land you with a hefty fine and penalty points on your licence."
