🛞 What’s the Legal Tyre Tread Depth in the UK?

🛞 What’s the Legal Tyre Tread Depth in the UK?

By Andrews Car Centre – Tyre Safety Experts in Lincoln

Keeping an eye on your tyres isn’t just about performance — it’s about safety and legality. In fact, driving with worn tyres can fail your MOT, reduce grip in wet weather, and even land you with a £2,500 fine per tyre.

So, what’s the legal tyre tread depth in the UK — and how can you check it?

Let’s break it down, and show you how we can help here at Andrews Car Centre in Lincoln.

✅ What’s the Legal Tread Depth?

In the UK, the minimum legal tread depth for car tyres is:

1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre tread, around the entire circumference.

This applies to:

• Cars

• Vans

• Light trailers

If your tread depth falls below this, your tyres are considered illegal, unsafe, and could lead to:

• MOT failure

• Penalty points on your licence

• Fines up to £2,500 per tyre

• Increased risk of aquaplaning or longer stopping distances

🧠 What’s the Recommended Tread Depth?

While 1.6mm is the legal limit, most experts recommend replacing tyres at 3mm. Below that point, braking distances start to increase significantly — especially on wet roads.

For example:

• A tyre with 3mm tread can stop up to 8 metres shorter than one with 1.6mm in wet conditions.

If you drive regularly around Lincolnshire's rural roads or in unpredictable weather, this difference could be crucial.

🔍 How to Check Your Tyre Tread at Home

You can check your tyre tread depth in a few simple ways:

1. Use a 20p coin

• Insert it into the tread grooves

• If you can see the outer rim of the coin, your tread is below 3mm and may be illegal soon

2. Look for tread wear indicators

• These small bars run across the tread

• If they're level with the tread surface, the tyre is at or near 1.6mm

3. Use a tread depth gauge

• A quick and accurate way to check each tyre properly

🛠️ Free Tyre Checks in Lincoln

If you're unsure about your tread depth, don’t guess — let us check it for free.

At Andrews Car Centre, we offer:

• ✅ Free tread depth measurement

• ✅ Tyre pressure check

• ✅ Sidewall damage inspection

• ✅ Honest advice — no pressure, no upselling

We’ll let you know if your tyres are safe, borderline, or need replacing — and if you do need new ones, we stock a wide range of budget, mid-range, and premium tyres, fitted fast and affordably.

📍 Tyre Safety Matters – We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re commuting in Lincoln, making deliveries across Lincolnshire, or heading out on a road trip, your tyres are the only part of your car that touches the road.

Don’t leave it to chance — stay safe, legal, and confident.

👉 Call us, book online, or pop into Andrews Car Centre on Dixon Street, Lincoln for a free tyre check today.

🔍 Related Searches We Help With:

• Legal tyre tread depth UK

• Tyre check near me

• Tyre replacement Lincoln

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• MOT tyre failure advice

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