Stop Within the Law

Tyre Tread Depth Makes a Big Difference

  • 1 in 3 road accidents are caused by worn or defective tyres.*
  • The penalty for driving with un-roadworthy tyres is 3 points per tyre, with a maximum fine of £2500 per tyre.**
  • The minimum legal tread depth for a car is 1.6mm across the central ¾ of the breadth of tread in a continuous band around the full circumference of the tyre.
  • HiQ recommends a minimum tread depth of 3mm.
  • The difference in stopping distance between a tread depth of 1.6mm and 3mm is 3 car lengths at 50mph.***

Stopping distances***

It makes a big difference.

  • New tyres with 8mm of tread depth stop within 29.5m
  • Recommended minimum tread depth of 3mm stop within 31.7m
  • Legal limit of 1.6mm tread depth stop within 39.5m

*Source: Department of Transport. **The penalties for having illegal tyres are currently a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre. This relates to the law as defined in Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. ***Stopping distances: Tests carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) involving four different vehicles travelling on wet roads on four different tread depths. At 50 mph on 3mm tread depth stopping distance = 31.7 m. On 1.6 mm tread depth stopping distance was increased 39.5 metres.