Bald tyres on a car

[C_Ronaldo]

If you get stopped by the police and they inspect your tyres can they give you a fine or points on your licence or both if the tyres are bald

[Badger_Lady]

Yes. . . . . . . . . .

[VickyHurn]

£60 and 3 points for EACH tyre that is under the legal tread limit

[Stephen Leak]

And rightly so, especially at this time of year.

There are "wear indicators" - little bars across the bottom of the tread - at 1.6mm, the legal limit.

For practical purposes, I would recommend starting to shop around for new tyres as soon as they get to 3mm. Below this, the amount of grip is significantly reduced.

This is one reason I always get my oil & filter changes done at National Tyres - not only do they do this cheap, they also always note your tyre tread depth, in case they can try to sell you some new ones!

[C_Ronaldo]

Before soemone says is it me with the bald tyres, its not, i check my tyres regulary as i want to be safe, its someone i know who has bald tyres, if the driver has had his licence for under a year is the penalty worse as opposed to someone who has had a licence for 3 years

[ariba10]

It matters not how long the offender has held a licence.

[southernscouser]

I believe this also applies if your spare tyre is un-roadworthy. It is not an offence however if you do not carry a spare. :)

[hartcjhart]

They could also impound the car as being dangerous

[pompeyrich]

Before soemone says is it me with the bald tyres, its not, i check my tyres regulary as i want to be safe, its someone i know who has bald tyres, if the driver has had his licence for under a year is the penalty worse as opposed to someone who has had a licence for 3 years


As said it is 3 points per offence, although it willk only count as 3 total for totting up purposes. As a newly qualified driver, this is halfway to a revokation of the drivers licence, 6 points in 2 years mean you have to start as a learner again, so yes it is the same but worse, if that makes sense, as just one speed offence would mean "L" plates theory and practical tests etc. etc.

[epninety]

£60 per offence only if a fixed penalty notice is offered and accepted. If you go to court, the fine could be £2500 per offence.

[Iamthesmartestmanalive]

In a way he is more likely to get double here

In my own experience, 1 tyre barely under they will tell you to get it done if you say you didnt realise

If you have 2 it shows that maybe you didnt care and hammer you

[goldspanners]

As said it is 3 points per offence, although it willk only count as 3 total for totting up purposes. As a newly qualified driver, this is halfway to a revokation of the drivers licence, 6 points in 2 years mean you have to start as a learner again, so yes it is the same but worse, if that makes sense, as just one speed offence would mean "L" plates theory and practical tests etc. etc.

it is 3 points per offence,but if you have 2 bald tyres this is 6 points and double fine.
realistically if you have 4 bald tyres you could end up with 12 points and £8000 fine.as you can get upto £2000 fine per tyre.
it is an expensive set of tyres.

[anewman]

If they're concerned about cost, just call round for the absolute cheapest - include dealers in the places to call, and also try the online tyre places like blackcircles.

The tyres certainly shouldn't be allowed to get to being bald and should be checked regularly enough to know the tread depth. A full set of cheap tyres will be better than a good branded set of bald one's. Driving on bald tyres they are also taking their own life in their hands - touch some ice and a bald tyre won't fair very well.

Although the yanks are using imperial measures, watch this. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6MUlVNkLM

[pompeyrich]

it is 3 points per offence,but if you have 2 bald tyres this is 6 points and double fine.
realistically if you have 4 bald tyres you could end up with 12 points and £8000 fine.as you can get upto £2000 fine per tyre.
it is an expensive set of tyres.


Yes, as I said it is 3 points for each tyre, but as the offences were commited at the same time they only count as 3 for totting up purposes.

[tomstickland]

If really desperate then buy part worns from a scrap yard.

[thescouselander]

£60 and 3 points for EACH tyre that is under the legal tread limit

I remember a TV ad about this a while back, it said it was 3 points and up to £2000 per illegal tyre!

[anewman]

Try these out

http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Skoda III.jpg

[goldspanners]

Yes, as I said it is 3 points for each tyre, but as the offences were commited at the same time they only count as 3 for totting up purposes.

i dont get what you mean? if you have a car that has 4 bald tyres you will loose your liscence,each tyre is a seperate offence,this equals 12 points not just 3.
the same goes for no seatbelt and over the drink limit,they dont just charge you with one offence they charge you for them all.
you WILL loose your liscence with 4 bald tyres if caught.and a hefty fine to go with it.

[goldspanners]

Try these out

http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Skoda%20III.jpg

nice roof rack!

[photome]

i dont get what you mean? if you have a car that has 4 bald tyres you will loose your liscence,each tyre is a seperate offence,this equals 12 points not just 3.
the same goes for no seatbelt and over the drink limit,they dont just charge you with one offence they charge you for them all.
you WILL loose your liscence with 4 bald tyres if caught.and a hefty fine to go with it.

Yes but how loose will it get ? :rotfl:

[pompeyrich]

i dont get what you mean? if you have a car that has 4 bald tyres you will loose your liscence,each tyre is a seperate offence,this equals 12 points not just 3.
the same goes for no seatbelt and over the drink limit,they dont just charge you with one offence they charge you for them all.
you WILL loose your liscence with 4 bald tyres if caught.and a hefty fine to go with it.


You WONT, click HERE (http://www.lawanswers.co.uk/questions/caught-for-three-bald-tyres-and-battery-clamp-defect-is-it-true-i-will-get-three-points-for-each-offence/?searchterm=bald%20tyres) and read it for yourself, the Magistrates can impose a discretionary disqualification but they can for most offences including speeding, for totting up purposes they only count the highest number of points of any single incident. There is another example involving more serious offences HERE (http://www.lawanswers.co.uk/questions/stopped-for-running-red-light-in-my-partners-car-with-no-insurance-and-no-licence-and-they-are-now-prosecution-both-of-us-what-defence-do-we-have-and-what-might-the-penalties-be/) but still only the higher number of points is counted.

There are so many myths about motoring law, someone mentioned about getting done for a bald spare, there is no legal obligation to carry or maintain a spare wheel/tyre, the offence is commited IF/WHEN you put that defective tyre on.

Having said that, it would be far easier and definately cheaper, not to mention safer, to just go and buy the tyres needed.

[goldspanners]

You WONT, click HERE (http://www.lawanswers.co.uk/questions/caught-for-three-bald-tyres-and-battery-clamp-defect-is-it-true-i-will-get-three-points-for-each-offence/?searchterm=bald%20tyres) and read it for yourself, the Magistrates can impose a discretionary disqualification but they can for most offences including speeding, for totting up purposes they only count the highest number of points of any single incident. There is another example involving more serious offences HERE (http://www.lawanswers.co.uk/questions/stopped-for-running-red-light-in-my-partners-car-with-no-insurance-and-no-licence-and-they-are-now-prosecution-both-of-us-what-defence-do-we-have-and-what-might-the-penalties-be/) but still only the higher number of points is counted.

There are so many myths about motoring law, someone mentioned about getting done for a bald spare, there is no legal obligation to carry or maintain a spare wheel/tyre, the offence is commited IF/WHEN you put that defective tyre on.

Having said that, it would be far easier and definately cheaper, not to mention safer, to just go and buy the tyres needed.

you will be fined and you will get points for carrying a bald spare tyre,but you wont get points or a fine if you dont have a spare tyre.
i know it sounds crazy but this is the truth,i think its because potentially you could drive with the bald spare.
it is not a myth about getting 3 points for each tyre it is possible and they will all show as individual offences.

[anewman]

you will be fined and you will get points for carrying a bald spare tyre,but you wont get points or a fine if you dont have a spare tyre.

I suppose it's unlikely they'll ever check the spare, but what if you happen to be off to get the tyre replaced? I presume the long arm of the law would still reach you. (I suppose getting caught out with a bald spare and just happening to be on your way to get it replaced is unlikely though.)

[Stephen Leak]

I suppose it's unlikely they'll ever check the spare, but what if you happen to be off to get the tyre replaced? I presume the long arm of the law would still reach you.

Strictly speaking, probably yes. But you can drive a car without a valid MOT, as long as you are driving to the test centre. If you had an appointment and could prove your intent, I can't see any prosecution standing up in court.

[goldspanners]

I suppose it's unlikely they'll ever check the spare, but what if you happen to be off to get the tyre replaced? I presume the long arm of the law would still reach you. (I suppose getting caught out with a bald spare and just happening to be on your way to get it replaced is unlikely though.)

this is not unlikely anewman,i have been stopped on a few occasions in my company van and they have done a spot check on the vehicle and have checked the spare tread depth every time.
im sure if you could prove you are going to get it replaced then they may be ok,it just depends on the officers mood on the day i suppose.

[scotsman4th]

When I first passed my test (a good few years ago now) I had a minor indescretion which left me with points on my license. I had 14 points placed on my license but no ban. (2 offences, 7 points each)
The reason I wasnt banned was because it was for different offences at the same time (I got my lawyer to query it with DVLA as an insurer said i shouldn't have my license).
The reason I kept my license was because it was for seperate offences but the same incident.
Each tyre would be a seperate offence although the offence is the same 3 times.

[Alikay]

Having had an idiot in a pick-up truck with with bald tyres run into me at a roundabout, I'm happy that they should be fined for each bald tyre. Tyres rarely wear evenly back & front so if they're ALL below the legal limit its highly likely the vehicle has been driven on one or more sub standard tyre for a few thousand miles. Its an easy thing to check, and relative to petrol & insurance costs these days, not too expensive to replace tyres regularly.

DH always changes ours way before they get to the legal limits as he says that the minimum isn't very much: sometimes his whole life (me & the kids) are in the car so decent tyres and brakes are vital.

[pompeyrich]

you will be fined and you will get points for carrying a bald spare tyre,but you wont get points or a fine if you dont have a spare tyre.
i know it sounds crazy but this is the truth,i think its because potentially you could drive with the bald spare.
it is not a myth about getting 3 points for each tyre it is possible and they will all show as individual offences.

You WONT and you dont have to take a defective spare out of the boot for an MOT as it is simply not checked for that either. HERE (http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/legal-advice/tyres.html) is another link, scroll down to Spare Tyres. I already have a link to the "your insurance is void if you dont have an MOT" myth.

You could "potentially" commit lots of crimes with things in your boot, use tools as weapons, for example but the offence only arises if you carry it out, not if you MIGHT do it

[goldspanners]

If a vehicle is fitted with more than one defective tyre, you can be summonsed for each tyre which is illegal. Disqualification is also possible in certain circumstances.

if you keep reading your link you will also find this.
i dont know where your from but maybe the law in scotland is different from the laws in england.
you could carry a wheel wrench in the boot,this would be acceptable,but if you have it tucked down the side of the drivers seat then this could be deemed as an offensive weapon. it has happened before where the item hasnt been used but was easily available to be used if required and the item has either been confiscated and or the driver prosecuted.

[pompeyrich]

I think we are going to have to beg to differ, I agree and have never dis-agreed, that you will be summoned for each defective tyre, you will also get points for each defective tyre, if you read my posts I have never said this is not the case. The only point I was trying to make, is that yes 4 bald tyres would leave you with 12 points on your licence but you would not be banned under the totting up system as only the highest points count for a single incident as shown in my links and bourne out by scotsman 4th who I would presume is Scottish although may be down here now.

The courts have the power to disqualify for ANY endorsable offence, if they consider it serious enough, whether you have points already, or not, so I accept that they could consider 2, 3 or 4 bald tyres serious and ban you but it would be an OUTRIGHT BAN NOT A TOTTING UP BAN.

Anyway I have enjoyed our discussion and maybe the law is different in England, so I will leave it there, as we are going well off topic. Have a good Christmas and Hogmanay and check those tyres !!