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Your tyres can be easy to forget about when you're on the road, but your car's grip, braking and control all depend on them being in good condition. So, when it comes to car maintenance, tyres are not the place to cut corners.
According to data from GOV.UK, up to 10% of MOT failures are caused by problems related to tyres, including tread depth, general condition and pressure. But passing your MOT is only part of the story. Driving on worn, damaged or underinflated tyres increases your stopping distance, reduces your grip in the wet, and raises your risk of aquaplaning.
Not sure whether yours are due for a change? Here's everything you need to know, from the legal minimum to the checks worth doing yourself.
What’s Included In This Article?
Quick Summary
Your tyres will need replacing if:
The tread depth is under the safe limit of 3mm or under the legal minimum of 1.6mm.
You’ve noticed external damage to the tyres.
You’ve had a puncture.
You’ve had the current tyres on your car for more than 5 years.
How Do I Know When My Tyres Need Replacing?
There are a few different things to check when it comes to your tyres. Getting into the habit of checking all three regularly is the best way to stay safe and keep your tyres in good nick.
Driving on tyres below the legal tread limit or with damage that makes them unroadworthy isn't just dangerous – it's a fineable offence. You could face a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre.
Tread depth
As you drive, your tyre tread wears down over time, and the less of it there is, the less grip, control or water your tyres can channel away.
The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm, but you don't want to leave it until your tyres have reached that limit. For your safety and the safety of other road users, you should change your tyres once they reach 3mm, not 1.6mm.
To check your tyre tread depth yourself at home, there are a few tests you can do:
The 20p test: Insert a 20p into the main grooves of your tyre; if you can see the outer band of the coin, your tread is below, or close to, the legal limit.
Use a tread depth gauge: These are accurate and handy to keep in your glovebox. Insert the gauge into a central groove so that the flat base is flush with the tyre and take your reading.
Check the tyre wear indicators (TWIs): Every tyre has small rubber bars built into the grooves. Look for a small TWI or symbol like an arrow on the side of the tyre and follow it up to find the rubber bars. If your tread has worn down level with these bars, you've hit 1.6mm and the tyre is illegally worn.
Make sure to check tread depth at several points around the tyre, not just one spot. Uneven wear is common, so a single reading can be misleading.
Visible damage and punctures
Impacts with kerbs, potholes and debris can cause damage that isn't always obvious from the outside. That's why you'll need to give them a proper check, examining both the tread and the full sidewall on each tyre if you've had a knock. Look out for:
Bulges in the sidewall or tread, as these could be a sign of internal damage.
Cuts or splits that are deep enough to expose the tyre's internal casing.
Embedded objects like nails or screws – don't try to remove these yourself.
Not every puncture means a full replacement. Depending on its size and position, a puncture can sometimes be repaired, but sidewall damage almost always means the tyre needs to be replaced entirely. If in doubt, get your tyres checked rather than guessing.
Tyre foam or a sealant kit is a useful temporary fix to get you moving, but make sure to always get the tyre properly assessed as soon as you can.
How Long Do Tyres Last?
There's no single mileage figure that applies to every tyre, as it can depend on anything from your driving style and vehicle weight to the types of roads you drive on. When it comes to tyre lifespan, age matters just as much as mileage. You can find out exactly how old your tyre is by checking the tyre for a 4-digit code. The first two digits are the week of manufacture and the last two are the year; so for example, a code that reads 2419 would mean the tyre was made in week 24 of 2019.
However, as a general rule, tyres should be checked and replaced after 5 years and should never be in use for longer than 10 years, even if the tread still looks fine.
How To Make Your Tyres Last Longer
Good tyre care won't stop wear altogether, but it will help you get safe, longer mileage out of every set. Our range of tyre care essentials can get you part of the way, but you should also:
Keep an eye on your tyre pressure. You can do this easily with a tyre pressure gauge – but you should only check your tyres when they’re cold, as recently used tyres can give inaccurate readings.
Drive carefully. It may sound like obvious advice, but avoid colliding with the kerb wherever possible, and take extra care when parking, driving over speed bumps or on roads with a rough surface.
Regularly rotate your tyres. Rotating your tyres regularly helps ensure they wear evenly, so each tyre has a similar tread depth. Move the front tyres to the rear, but keep them on the same sides, while moving the rear tyres to the front on the opposite sides.
Check your wheel alignment. If you drive your car regularly, we recommend you get your tyres aligned every 2 to 3 years. This isn’t especially expensive – and if you’re confident you can do it yourself, you could save hundreds of pounds with our range of wheel alignment tools.
For a helping hand with your car maintenance, check out our expert guides, including advice on how to check your brake pads and discs and how to pass your MOT first time.
FAQs
Should I change all four tyres at once?
It's not always necessary, but it's usually the safest option if all four are worn to a similar level. If you need to change one, you should always change tyres in pairs across the same axle to ensure balance. If you drive a 4x4 car, you will need to change all four tyres at once.
What is an unsafe tyre depth?
The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, and driving below this is illegal and can result in a fine. However, most manufacturers and safety organisations recommend replacing tyres once they reach 3mm, rather than waiting until they hit the legal limit.
Do I need all-season tyres in the UK?
No, unlike some countries, the UK has no legal requirement to fit winter or all-season tyres. It is entirely the driver's personal choice. All-season tyres can be a sensible choice, but if you regularly drive in areas of the UK that see snow or ice, dedicated winter tyres will usually outperform all-season tyres.