Did you know? It’s the law to make sure your tyres have a minimum tyre tread depth. Find out what the law says and learn how to check your tyres at Kirkhill Auto Services. The legal minimum tyre tread depth varies by each type of vehicle, therefore to ensure your tyres are in good condition, have one of the team check this out for you. Book your MOT online for prices and availability.
Tyres will start to wear out over time, but some factors can increase the wear.
Type of vehicle
Driving style/habits
Quality of tyre
Overloading
Improper inflation pressure
Improper tyre alignment
What if I get into an accident with illegal or dangerous tyres?
If you’re involved in an accident and your tyres don’t meet the legal minimum standards, any insurance claim may be invalidated.
Tyres driven that are dangerous because they’re worn or bald, could see a prosecution for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
This could also result in a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 points on your licence. And that’s just per tyre. If all 4 tyres are found to be dangerous, you could be looking at a £10,000 fine and 12 points.
How do I check tyre tread depth?
The most accurate way of checking your tyre’s tread is with a purpose-made tool called a tyre tread depth gauge. This is what the technicians at Tyres On The Drive use to quickly and accurately measure the depth of an individual tyre groove. Many of these handy gadgets also allow you to check car tyre pressure. If you have one to hand, simply insert the probe bar into the groove and then push the shoulders flush with the tread. If you don’t have a tyre tread depth gauge, you could check the tyre’s tread wear indicators (TWI), or wear bars. These are evenly spaced through the main grooves in the tyre tread and allow you to take a visual reading. In some instances, a small triangle marking will denote the position of the tread wear indicator. If the indicator is flush with the level of the tread, then the tyre should be replaced.
If you have any concerns regarding the condition of your tyres, please don't hesitate to contact Kirkhill Auto Services, who are more than happy to assist