UK law stipulates that a car should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three-quarters of the tyre. The same rule applies to goods vehicles, such as vans, trailers and caravans that don’t exceed 3500kg.

If you are caught driving with defective or “bald” tyres, it could result in:

A fine up to £2,500 per tyre
Three points on your licence per tyre
An insurance claim made as a result of an accident becoming invalid

It is also illegal to use a tyre that:

Has any portion of the ply or cord exposed
Has a bulge or tear
Is not correctly inflated
Is not maintained in a fit condition
Is unsuitable in regards to the vehicle’s use

While UK tyre law states that a wheel should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, most motoring experts would recommend replacing a tyre once the tread gets to 2-3mm. This is confirmed by RoSPA’s study, which found stopping distances increase by 44.6% on smooth concrete at the legal minimum tread depth.