How to check tyre tread and depth

The tread depth of your tyre is highly important - having worn tyres could mean that you are breaking the law if they are below the minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. Any depth less than this could have dangerous consequences, and could cause an accident to occur.

Not only is a shallow tyre depth highly hazardous, but there are also legal consequences – for instance, you could be handed a £2,500 fine and three penalty points on your licence if you fail to comply with the legal tyre standard.

How to measure tyre tread

Although the minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, experts recommend having a depth of 3mm, as this could impact your braking distance by 44%. The tread depth works to disperse water away from the contact patch between road and tyre, so the less tread means the more chance you will lose traction and be able to grip the road. There are many easy ways in which you can check the tread depth of your tyres:

The 20p test

The most convenient way to check your tyre depth is with a 20p coin! All you have to do is:

• Insert a 20p coin into the grooves of your tyres.
• If you can see the outer band of the coin, this means that your tyres are of the legal standard.
• However, if you can’t see the outer band, your tyre tread may be too shallow.

It is recommended that you conduct the 20p test every two weeks and before long car journeys.

The tread wear indicator

The treadwear indicators are little elevated pieces of rubber that sit across the longitudinal grooves of your tyre. When these become level with the tyre tread, this indicates that your tyres need changing.

Tyre tread depth gauge

This piece of kit was specially made for checking tread depth. There are both manual and manual tread depth gauges – therefore, it is best to consult the manufacturer manual for instructions.

How often should I check my tread depth?

It is recommended that you check the tread depth of your tyres every four weeks, or at the very minimum, once every month. Not checking your tread depth regularly enough is not only dangerous - but also expensive. By regularly checking your tyres, you can notice any potential issues and prevent your tyres from wearing below the legal limit.

After checking your tyre depth, you may find that your tyres require servicing – keep up to date with the maintenance of your car with our range of services. If you’re looking for advice, do not hesitate to contact our specialist team.