How to check your Tread Depth

Why it's important and how to check

Tyre Safety

Your tyres are the only part of your vehicle that grip the road, so it's crucial to make sure your tyres meet the necessary safety requirements.

Checking your tread depth is simple and straight forward - it only takes a few minutes and all you need is a 20p coin.

Watch our Tread Depth video guide or use our step by step guide below on how to check whether your tyres meet the legal requirements.

Tread Depth Indicator

8mm
0% worn		   7mm
15% worn		   6mm
31% worn		   5mm
47% worn		   4mm
62% worn		   3mm
78% worn		   2mm
94% worn		   1.6mm
100% worn

Step by Step Guide

  • Ensure your vehicle is safely parked, engine turned off and fully stationary
  • Check the overall condition of the tyre, looking for any cuts, bulges, or embedded objects
  • Use either a tread depth gauge, or a 20p coin
  • The rim of a 20p coin measures approximately 2mm, just over the legal limit
  • Place the coin in the main tread of the tyre
  • If the rim of the coin is visible above the tyre, then your tread depth maybe too low
  • Remember to check all of your tyres

Did you know?

Tyres have wear indicator bars: Raised areas at the base of the tread, serve as a visual warning that the tyre is near to or at the minimum legal tread depth of 1.6mm.

It is recommended that tyres are replaced when 3mm of tread remains. The less tread there is, the greater the stopping distance in the wet, and the greater the risk of skidding.

Worn tyres will aquaplane more easily, the limited tread depth being unable to disperse sufficient water to maintain contact with the road surface.