Balding tyre advice

bafty_crastard

I have 2 tyres that I think are just below minimum tread allowed.

Our police have announced a week long vehicle safety check/inspection where random drivers will be stopped and tyres, wipers etc will be checked.
I passsed one of these checks late this afternoon and they were pulling in every other car. Luckily I wasn't pulled!! All the tyre places were shut by then so I couldn't go tonight to get new tyres.
Tomorrow I will be going for tyres but if I'm stopped on my way to the garage would they still do me? I know if you're MOT is up you can drive the car to the MOT testing station and won't get done but is it the same if I've booked into a garage to get new tyres?

Conor_3

bafty_crastard wrote: »

Tomorrow I will be going for tyres but if I'm stopped on my way to the garage would they still do me? I know if you're MOT is up you can drive the car to the MOT testing station and won't get done but is it the same if I've booked into a garage to get new tyres?

Firstly, what a !!!!!! for waiting until they were running a campaign before being bothered to change them. I guess you're one of those muppets who run them down to canvas then gets surprised when you rear end someone because you can't stop.

Yes, you can still be stopped and prosecuted. At the end of the day, the minimum tread depth is the minimum and there's nothing to stop you getting them changed before they get that low. I change mine at 2mm because below that, you're really pushing it in wet weather.

anewman

The whole point of the fine and checks is it's your responsibility to ensure they are legal and get them changed.

CHR15

bafty_crastard wrote: »

I have 2 tyres that I think are just below minimum tread allowed.

is it the same if I've booked into a garage to get new tyres?

I would be very surprised if this were the case.

There is an argument that without an MOT, the car IS roadworthy but without the MOT.

You car is NOT roadworthy with tyres in that condition. You could use the spare to sort one of them out but with two illegal tyres, I would think (and agree) that you will have to sort it before driving it on the road.

There are alternatives, there are mobile tyre fitters or you could take the wheel off and use another car to get the wheel to the garage.

anewman

CHR15 wrote: »

You car is NOT roadworthy with tyres in that condition. You could use the spare to sort one of them out

As the fine and points can be per tyre, this is probably the best thing to do.

bafty_crastard

Conor wrote:

Firstly, what a !!!!!! for waiting until they were running a campaign before being bothered to change them. I guess you're one of those muppets who run them down to canvas then gets surprised when you rear end someone because you can't stop.
quote]


I was asking for advice about the legality of driving my car to a garage-not a smart a**e comment.

I have never rear ended anyone and have no plans to do so in the future.
You don't know me or anything about me so don't go assuming things.

I got 4 new tyres in April this year and have done about 10000 miles on them. I checked my tyres tonight after having seen the police pulling everyone and found my front tyres are worn unevenly. About an inch wide on the inside of the front tyres look as if they are worn a lot more than the rest of the tyre. As far as I know the minimum depth is 1.6mm-it's probably about that or just below on the inside bit but about 3-4mm across the rest of the tyre. My rear tyres are fine and my spare has never been used.
After noticing the front tyres I will be going for new ones tomorrow.

Premier_2

Book/buy online tonight - you could probably arrange an appointment for a mobile tyre fitter to come to your house tomorrow and fit the tyres you require. If you are buying decent tyres, they'll probably be cheaper buying them that way too!

anewman

You need to get the uneven wear checked. You may need tracking adjusting, or if you don't often check the tyre pressures they may be under-inflated causing excessive wear on the edges. It only needs to be at least 1.6mm across the central 3/4 around the entire circumference of the tyres. See http://www.checkthatcar.com/uklegal.asp

AdrianHi

bafty_crastard wrote: »

found my front tyres are worn unevenly. About an inch wide on the inside of the front tyres look as if they are worn a lot more than the rest of the tyre. As far as I know the minimum depth is 1.6mm-it's probably about that or just below on the inside bit but about 3-4mm across the rest of the tyre. My rear tyres are fine and my spare has never been used.
After noticing the front tyres I will be going for new ones tomorrow.

Firstly those front tyres may still bel legal though I'd want to get them changed ASAP and get the tracking and alingment checked. Also make sure you check pressures at least once a month, tyres are well below correct pressure before they start to "look" flat.

The minimum tread depth requirements relate to at least the central 3/4 of the tyre width. The outer edges of the tyre tread region are for dispelling water outwards to try and prevent aquaplaning, when this tread is down driving through standing water gets "exciting".

In summer I'll change tyres once they are at 2mm. If it's approaching winter I'll do it as soon as they are under 3mm. Just had to replace all 4 tyres on both cars in the household this month *sign*.

Conor_3

bafty_crastard wrote: »

I have never rear ended anyone and have no plans to do so in the future.
You don't know me or anything about me so don't go assuming things.

I know you don't bother checking the one thing keeping you on the road. Oh, and if the 10,000 miles comment is right, don't bother servicing it either.

bafty_crastard wrote: »

I got 4 new tyres in April this year and have done about 10000 miles on them. I checked my tyres tonight after having seen the police pulling everyone and found my front tyres are worn unevenly. About an inch wide on the inside of the front tyres look as if they are worn a lot more than the rest of the tyre. .

And just think that if you bothered to do weekly checks and have the car serviced, you or the mechanic servicing it would have noticed the wear earlier and could have got the tracking done, thus saving you having to have perfectly good ones replaced.

hewhoisnotintheknow

park the car, dont use it until they are replaced

its madness what you have been doing and you should be ashamed