The legal minimum, and why 1.6mm isn't enough
UK law requires at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around the full circumference. Below that is an MOT failure and can carry a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre.
Most tyre manufacturers recommend replacing at 3mm. Wet braking distances lengthen sharply below that, which matters more than most drivers realise on winter roads.
How to check your tyres in two minutes
- Use a 20p coin in the main grooves — if the outer rim is visible, the tyre is close to the limit
- Look for bulges, cuts or cracks in the sidewall, which are immediate MOT failure items
- Check pressures monthly and before long journeys; under-inflation wears the shoulders and costs fuel
- Watch for uneven wear, which usually means the wheel alignment needs checking
Run-flats, TPMS and part-worn tyres
Vehicles with a tyre pressure monitoring system show a dashboard warning when pressure drops. A faulty sensor is an MOT failure on cars where TPMS was fitted as standard. Run-flat tyres can be driven a limited distance after a puncture, but cannot be repaired afterwards.
Part-worn tyres are legal if correctly marked, but they offer limited savings against new budget tyres and carry unknown history — most garages advise against them.
Getting tyres fitted in Glasgow
Fitting normally includes new valves, balancing and disposal of the old tyre. Ask whether alignment is checked while the wheels are off — it is cheaper to correct at the same time than to book it separately later.