Safety
The TyreSafe 20p Safety campaign.
Lifesaver in your pocket
Checking the tread depth of your tyres may be a lot easier than you think. Inserting a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyres gives you a good indication of whether your tyres have sufficient tread depth. If the outer band of the 20p coin is visible when inserted into the tread, your tyres may be illegal and you should have them checked by a qualified tyre specialist. If the outer band is not visible on the coin, then your tyres have a tread depth well above the legal limit.
The Law
The current law states that tyres must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre, around its whole circumference. Drivers with tyres that fail to meet these standards face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per illegal tyre.
The dangers
Vehicles fitted with tyres that do not have the legal amount of tread pose a danger to the driver of that vehicle and to other road users. Stopping distances are increased, cornering ability is reduced and the likelihood of aquaplaning is increased, all as a result of illegal tread depth.
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