Car and Light Vehicle Tread

The legal minimum tread for cars and light vehicles in the UK and EU is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre tread width and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre.

Truck tread

The legal minimum tread for trucks in the UK and EU is 1mm across the central three quarters of the tyre tread width and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre. The remaining one quarter must have visible tread.

Suitablity

Tyres must be suitable (ie of the correct type and size) for use to which the vehicle is being put to and must be inflated to the vehicles or tyre manufacturers' recommended pressures.

Tyre type

Tyres of different types must not be fitted to opposite wheels of the vehicle (for example, radial-ply tyres must not be fitted to a wheel on the same axle as wheels already fitted with cross-ply tyres and vice-versa, and a two -axle vehicle with single rear wheels must not have radial-ply tyres on the front axle if cross-ply tyres are fitted to the rear axle).

Tyre breaks & cuts

No tyre must have a break in its fabric or a cut deep enough to reach the body cords. No cut must be more than 25mm or 10% of the tyre's section width in length, whichever is the greatest.

Tyre damage

There must be no lump, bulge or tear caused by seperation or partial fracture of its structure, nor must any portion of the ply cord structure be exposed.
The Law and its requirements

The legal minimum tread for cars and light vehicles in the UK and EU is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre tread width and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre.

Minimum tread for cars and light vehiclesThe penalties for offences related to the use of faulty tyres on vehicles are very severe.

In the case of any vehicles, except goods vehicles and vehicles adapted to carry more than eight passengers, for every offence there is a fine at level 4 of the standard scale with discretionary disqualification with 3 penalty points.

Level 4 is currently £2,500 and each faulty tyre is considered as a separate offence. Two faulty tyres equals £5,000.