Tyre checks

Tyre condition and pressure

Tyres are your vehicle's only point of contact with the road so it’s important that they are checked regularly.

Tyre tread depth and damage

Tyre treads are designed to pump water from the road surface and provide maximum grip. RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) recommends that worn tyres are replaced as soon as they reach 3mm.

Check for damage to the tyre body as well. If a tyre exposes the wire ply, it is illegal, no matter how small or minor the cut may look.

How to check your tyre tread

The law states that tyres must have 1.6mm of tread depth across the centre 3/4 of the width of the tread throughout the entire circumference of the tyre.

Tread wear indicators are small ribs across the bottom of the main tread grooves and when the tread surface becomes level with these ribs the tyre is at the legal limit and must be replaced.

Tyre pressure

The correct tyre pressures for your car can normally be found near the drivers door jam or on the reverse of the petrol cap in some cars. Your tyres must be at the recommended pressure to ensure optimum tread contact with the road.

Braking distances

Braking distances appear in the Highway Code and UK drivers are expected to learn them. In essence the higher the speed the greater the braking distance required. It is also important to consider braking time because brakes shed speed at a constant rate.