As we all know driving with damaged or worn tyres involves a risk of being fined, invalidate your car insurance and endanger lives too. All tyres fitted to vehicles must be fit for purpose and free from defects, tyres must also be correctly infalted to the recomneded pressure set my the manufacturers.
A tyre that is deemed to be fit for purpose must:
- be fully compatible with the other types of tyres fitted to the other wheels
- not have any lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of the structure.
- not have a cut or tear in excess of 25mm or 10% of the sectional width of the tyre, whichever is the greater, and which is deep enough to reach the ply or cord.
- not no part of the ply or cord exposed
A vehicle with any of these faults is liable to fail an MOT test.
Depth of Tread
The Tyres Tread depth must not fall below the minimum legal depth, the minimum depth of tread depends on the type and class of vehicle. See the table below to see what category your vehicles falls into:
| Vehicle Type | Tread Depth Minimum |
| Passenger vehicles (other than motorcycles) for not more than 8 seated passengers
Goods vehicles not exceeding 3,500kg max gross weight Light trailers not exceeding 3,500kg max gross weight |
At least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference |
| Most vehicles larger than those listed above
Motorcycles 50cc and over with or without sidecar |
At least 1.0mm throughout a continuous band across at least 3/4 of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference
NB: In the quarter where the tread may be less than 1.0mm, the original tread pattern must be visible |
| Mopeds and motorcycles under 50cc | Original tread pattern must be visible |
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