Checking Tyre Treads

Making sure your tyre treads are of adequate depth is not just responsible motoring - it is your legal obligation. Driving a vehicle with tyre treads below the limit of 1.6 millimeters across the complete circumference of each tyre is against the law and will earn you 3 penalty points on your driver's license as well as a substantial fine. Even worse, it could well cause you a nasty accident.

Reasons to Check Your Treads

Tyre treads have a large effect on braking distance and the shallower the thread, the longer your distance will be. Test show that a car travelling at 80 kilometers per hour on a normal road surface, with a tread depth of 7 millimeters will have a stopping distance of 23.8 meters. The same car, travelling at the same speed on the same surface but with a tread depth of 2 millimeters will take 32.6 meters to stop, so be sure that your treads are checked and you have properly inflated tyres.

As tread depth has such a clear and dangerous impact on your driving it is no wonder many tyre manufacturers recommend changing your tyres before you even reach the legal limit, believing anything below 3 millimeters to be unsafe. What is most important is that you are checking your tyres regularly. This should be done at least once every month and after any long distance journey and, luckily, it's a simple task.

How to Check Your Treads

There are a number of easy ways to check your treads. Many tyres in the UK now come equipped with built in thread indicators. These are small, hard pieces of rubber which sit in the grooves of your tyres and remain invisible until you begin to wear down to the legal minimum. When you start to see tread wear indicators it is time to get the tyres changed.

If you don't have tread wear indicators it might be worth investing in a tread depth gauge. A pocket size device, usually small enough to fit on a key ring, it shouldn't cost you much more than 5 pounds. This has the advantage of giving you an exact reading of your level of depth.

The cheapest and easiest way to check your tread depth is with a 20p coin. All you need to do is simply place the coin in the main groove of each tyre and check the position of the coin's outer rim. If the rim is hidden in the tread then you are still within the legal limit. If you can see the outer rim, then you need to change your tyres straight away. If you have any doubts at all about whether or not your tyres are within the legal limits, go to a mechanic and have them checked professionally.

If you regularly drive in certain conditions or on certain roads your tyres may suffer more greatly from tread wear. For example, those who drive over rocky or rough terrain should pay particular attention to their tyre treads. If you only drive on smooth surfaces but you notice your treads are declining at an abnormally quick rate, you may have problems with your wheel alignment or your tyres may be underinflated.

Your tyre treads are the part of your car which makes most contact with the road and therefore, they are the most crucial part of the car for keeping you steady and safe while driving. Checking tyre treads is a crucial part of maintaining a safe vehicle. It's not just about staying within the law - it's about giving a safe driving experience to everyone on the road.

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