What is the legal tyre tread depth in the UK?
The legal minimum is 1.6mm, measured across the central three-quarters of the tyre's tread width and right around the tyre's full circumference. A tyre can look fine at a glance and still be illegal if one section has worn down past that limit, which is why a visual check from the driver's seat usually isn't enough on its own.
Why does tyre tread depth matter?
Tread channels water away from the contact patch. As tread wears down, a tyre's ability to clear water drops sharply, which is why worn tyres lose grip fastest in the wet — longer braking distances and a higher risk of aquaplaning at speed, even on a road that looks fine.
How can I check my own tyre tread depth?
The simplest check is a 20p coin pushed into the main tread grooves. If the outer rim of the coin is covered, the tyre is above the legal minimum at that point; if the rim is visible, it's time to get it checked properly. Most tyres also have built-in tread wear indicator bars moulded into the grooves, which become level with the surrounding tread as the limit is reached. Check at several points around the tyre and across its width, not just one spot, since wear is rarely even.
Will worn tyres fail an MOT?
Yes. A tyre below 1.6mm across the required band is an MOT failure, not just an advisory — an MOT advisory is a note that something will need attention before long, not a current problem, and a tyre under the legal limit on the day of the test is already a current problem. See what an MOT advisory means for the fuller distinction. ONEFIX tests Class 4 vehicles — cars and light vans — for MOT, and tyre condition is one of the checks carried out at every test.
What if my tyres are legal but getting close to the limit?
This is exactly what an MOT advisory is for. If a tyre is legal on the day but close to 1.6mm, it's recorded as an advisory so it can be planned for and budgeted before it becomes a failure at the next test. ONEFIX also checks tread depth as part of the digital vehicle health check carried out with every service, with photographs, so uneven or fast wear gets picked up between MOTs too — not just once a year.
Does uneven tread wear mean something else is wrong?
It can do. Wear concentrated on one edge, in the centre, or in patches rather than evenly across the tyre is often a sign of something beyond the tyre itself — pressure, alignment or suspension — worth asking about rather than just replacing the tyre and hoping the next one wears evenly.
What does it cost to sort out worn tyres at ONEFIX?
Tyre cost depends on the size, the tyre chosen and how many need doing, so there's no single figure that's honest for every car. ONEFIX puts a price in writing before any work goes ahead, so you'll know the full cost and have approved it before anything is done.
How often should I check my tyre tread?
A quick coin check takes a minute and is worth doing roughly monthly, and before any long journey. Tread wears faster on the front tyres of a front-wheel-drive car and faster still in winter when roads are wetter for longer, so a tyre that was comfortably legal in spring can be much closer to the limit by the time winter sets in.
How do I get my tyres checked?
Book a service or MOT at ONEFIX, Plas Acton Garage, 282 Chester Road, Wrexham, LL12 8DU. Tread depth is checked as part of both. Book online or call to arrange a time — open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00.