Tyres are one of the most important parts of your car and one of the easiest things to check in terms of safety and legality. In this blog we explain what makes a tyre illegal or not, and how to check yours, to stay on the right side of the law, and the road! 

What Is The 'Legal' Tyre Tread in the UK?

To be legal, and not be at risk of landing you with a fine, your tyres must:

• Have at least 1.6mm of tread across the central ¾ of the tyre's width
• Have no damage to the sidewall or tread face, including bulges, cuts or abrasions
• Be the correct load and speed rating for your car
• Have “type approval” to be used on the road
• Be at the correct pressure for the vehicle and loading

Penalties for Non-compliance

If you are pulled over, stopped or are in an accident with any of the above conditions not met, expect to receive 3 points and a £100 fine at least, per tyre. 

If the condition of your tyres is deemed to have caused an accident, you may find more serious criminal proceedings being brought against you.

What Makes Tyres Illegal?

A few things can make your tyres illegal, such as:

• Bald tyres classified as insufficient tread depth of less than 1.6mm
• Damage such as cuts or bulges to the tyre
• Incorrect load or speed ratings
• Use of tyres not type approved for road use, such as semi-slick racing tyres

What is Tyre Tread Depth?

Tyre tread is the grooves cut into the rubber that make up the contact patch with the road. 

They are designed to expel water as the wheel rotates, enabling better wet performance and a reduced chance of aquaplaning. 

How to Check Tread Depth

You can purchase special tools to measure the tread depth on your tyres, but there is an easier way using a 20p coin, check out our full guide here to see how to do it.

Tyre Damage and Wear

Tyres are tough but not indestructible, they can be cut or abraded by curbing or from running over debris on the road, bulges can also appear from impacts such as those caused by potholes. 

You should check your tyres for damage periodically, making sure to check all around the tread surface too.

How to Check Tyres for Damage

1. Inspect the outside of your tyre, known as the tyre wall closely, look for cuts and scrapes to the rubber. Sometimes a cut can be hidden by the piece of rubber still being in place, so look carefully for thin slits and see if they move when inspected. 
2. Look at the tread all round the tyre, by moving the car forward slightly. Check for cuts to the tread as well as debris such as nails, screws or other sharp objects that could be embedded. 
3. If you see a screw or nail - don’t pull it out straight away, if there is a local tyre shop, take it there to be inspected. 

Tyre Age

Rubber degrades as it ages and can start to crack and split, this is why most tyre manufacturers recommend replacing them after 8 years. 

It’s a good idea to find out your tyres age whilst doing your usual checks, this is especially important if you don’t do many miles. 

How to Check Tyre Age

The year and week that the tyre was made is embossed on the side of the tyre in the format: WWYY. It is usually in a box or oval, somewhere on the sidewall. 

For quality branded tyres such as Michelin, Pirelli etc, replace them after 8 years, for other brands, 5 or 6 years is the recommended end-of-life age.

Related Reading: How Long Do Tyres Last

Tyre Pressure

Tyre pressure has a multitude of impacts on your car, including handling, traction when braking, stability and fuel economy. The manufacturer recommended pressures will be printed in the vehicle’s manual, and should be adhered to.

How to Check Tyre Pressure

Small tyre pressure gauges are available from most car accessory shops, and allow you to easily measure your tyre pressure by simply removing the dust cap from your tyre valve and attaching the gauge.

Alternatively, you can use a pump, by connecting as normal and checking the pressure gauge before operating the pump, it will indicate the current pressure in the tyres.
Related Reading: How Cold Weather Affects Tyre Pressure

Are Part Worn Tyres Worth It?

If you notice your tyres are damaged or old, you should consider replacing them as soon as possible. It might be possible to save some money on part-worn tyres, but consider carefully before doing so.

Part-worn tyres should be as safe as new tyres, but as our recent article on used tyres discussed, there are some aspects associated with them that affect this. 

The biggest concerns are that part worms are often already 5-6 years old when purchased, and can cause further problems with your car, such as unpredictable handling (if mismatched tyres are fitted) and wear to other components. 

In my experience, part-worn tyres are often a false economy, offering little value and significant potential drawbacks.

Get New Tyres With Bumper

With the consequences of illegal tyres and downsides of part-worns in mind, you may be worried about the cost of buying new tyres for your car, that’s where Bumper’s zero-percent interest tyre service comes in. Choose from hundreds of service partners nationwide, and find your nearest centre here.