"How much is the legal tyre tread depth? How to go about checking"
"Continental Tyres Birmingham, Car Tyres Birmingham ( 650+ words)"
[ "How much is the legal tyre tread depth? How to go about checking it?The only most essential part that contacts the road during motion is the tyres. In fact, it is the first component that you think of when you sit at the driver seat. If you keep ignoring the tyre health for days, you might fall into a heavy risk or your passenger might be short of safety. This blog discusses how do you check the tyre tread depth, what is the legal tread limit and what are the potential causes of tread wearHow is right tread depth important?A tyre tread is composed of tiny grooves and ridges that are distributed evenly at the circumference of the tyre rubber. At the first glance, they may appear as a little design but they do most of the function. Each of the grooves grips the road surface and lets you apply the brake when required. However, when this tread depth decreases the tyre performance is affected and the traction is certainly reduced. So, with overworn tyres, you are increasing the chances of risk and having less control over your vehicle. If you planning to upgrade your tyres then Continental Tyres Birmingham is one of the leading choices among most car manufacturersMajor causes of tyre wearThe tread depth of a newly purchased tyre is nearly 8mm, which naturally degrades over time. Various factors affecting tyre wear include:;What is the type of vehicle?What are your driving habits?What is the quality of tyre?How much load is on vehicle?Is the inflation pressure right?Is the tyre alignment proper?Though the average lifespan of the tyre depends on the above factors but the replacement should be committed once the depth reaches 3mm. At this point of tread, the braking distances start to increase dramatically. As per the research data, an under-inflated tyre offers less traction thus leading to increased tread wearWhat is the legal tread depth as per UK tyre law?UK law states that the car tyre should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. This rule is also applicable to other good vehicles like vans, caravans that dont exceed 3500kg.Imagine you are caught driving with damaged tyres or torn tread. What are the consequences?;Minimum fine up to 2,500 per tyreCharge of three points on your licence per tyreA wrong insurance claim due to an invalid accident.Therefore, it is illegal to drive using tyres having:A portion of the ply or piece of cord exposedHave a bulge or tread tearNot properly inflatedNot maintained in good conditionUnsuitable for vehicle useIn accordance with UK law, the wheel should be having a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. In actuality, most of the motoring experts recommend replacing the tyre as it gets reduced to 2-3mm. With the decrease in the tread depth, the braking distance is increased by 44.6% on smooth concrete surfacesHow to check tyre tread depth?One of the finest and correct ways to check the tyre tread depth is using a tool called tyre tread depth gauge. This is the popular tool used by the technicians at most of the service centers. With the tool, you can quickly and precisely measure the depth of an individual tyre groove. Apart from that, this handy tool is also used to measure the car tyre pressure. However, if you don't own a tread depth gauge with you then simply examine the tread wear indicators or (TWI). These indicators are evenly spaced throughout the main grooves of the tread and you can easily take reading out of it. For general instances, a small triangle is present which denotes the actual position of the tread wear indicatorWhat is 20p test?You must have heard about the 20p test. 20p test is one of the simplest ways to measure the tread depth of the tyres however this method is not accuratePerforming a 20p testPut a 20p coin inside the primary tread groove of your tyre.If you are unable to see the raised edges around the coin, then your tyres tread is greater than 1.6mm which is legal.While the other side, if the outer band is showing when inserted, it means that your tyre is unsafe and requires expert inspection.Cornering and alignment are the two factors that cause the tread of the tyre to wear at variable rates.How often do I need to check my tyre tread?If you are living in the UK then you must regularly check your tyres as per the adverse weather conditions. Ensure that they are ready to use for current UK weather. If you are unsure about your tyre health and their tread depth then you can find a compatible replacement at Car Tyres Birmingham" ]