TYRES - LEGAL INFORMATION
Most drivers become aware of their tyre health through the MOT, which compares tread depth on your tyres against the legal minimum tread of 1.6mm. The law states: The grooves of the tread pattern shall be of a depth of at least 1.6 mm throughout a continuous band comprising the central 75% of the breadth of tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre.
A new tyre will have 8mm of tread depth, but the last 1.6mm is not usable as it is below the legal limit. So a new tyre has 6.4mm of usable tread. By the time tyre tread measures 3.0mm (1.6mm is unusable within the law) – that tyre is 78% worn, and is very close to the legal minimum tread.
The current penalty for illegal tyre tread depth is: a maximum fine of £2,500, with discretionary disqualification and a compulsory driving licence endorsement of 3 penalty points – per illegal tyre.