Safe Minimum Tyre Tread Level?

macman

Just had my car MOT'd (it passed), but they advised that the front tyres have only 3mm tread on them. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, so can I safely use these for a couple more months, or should I replace them straightaway? Or in other words, what is the safe minimum, as opposed to the legal minimum?

Incyder

They should do another 10k probably.

wealdroam

Here's an article which may help.
But maybe not unbiased.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Your choice, do you trust they'll grip when you need them to.

I change mine at 3mm.

Hammyman

Incyder wrote: »

They should do another 10k probably.

Really? Is that in cloud cuckoo land?

To the OP, as you should be checking the tyres every week, you should get plenty of notice. I change mine at 2mm. How long they last depends on how you drive, the types of road you drive on, whether you carry a lot of junk in the car and how many miles you do a week.

Hintza

Start pricing up now and then you will know where to get them. I normaly buythem (mytyres or similar) a month or so in advance then I can fit them at my leisure.

marlot

I like to change mine at 3mm, but my company car lease co wouldn't consider it unless they were between 1.6 and 2mm. That was a real problem when I was doing 500-1000 miles a week - they could be good one weekend, but illegal the next if I wasn't careful.

You know they're low, so drive to the conditions and the fact that they're getting towards the end of their life. If you're sensible, and slow down when its raining, you can make them last down to 2mm without too much drama.

johnnyroper

Incyder wrote: »

They should do another 10k probably.

What planet are you on?

All cars are different and Tyres wear at different rates depending on all sorts of variables but there are no cars I know of that can do 10k on 1.4mm of tread.

OP personally I change at 3mm as grip is drastically reduced below that but if you keep an eye on them and once they hit wear bars in the tread they are down to 2mm so get them changed then.

Gordon_Hose

They'll have put them on the advisory list because they won't last until the next MOT.

Personally, I'd change them very soon.

TiTheRev

I also change mine when they are past 3mm. It's really not worth the risk, especially if you have family in the car, but not only that - for the sake of those around you as you drive.

NeverAgain_2

Unless you do a million miles a year, the tyres should be fine for a couple of months.

As others have said, you will have reduced grip, particularly in wet and wintery conditions.

You mention the fronts, so I'm guessing your plan is to change only the two front tyres.

This raises another question - on which axle do you fit the new ones?

Many people say the new tyres should go on the back, but others say it doesn't matter.

Me? I ducked the issue by changing all four last time.