Tyre edge wear 31 January at 1:07PM in Motoring 10 replies 397 views

sevenhills

I posted back in 2018 about tyre wear on our large vehicles.
A poster commented that it was a characteristic of crafters/sprinters, but once the tyre wear on the edge becomes excessive, the tyre becomes illegal.
Tread must be visible across 100% of the tread. Today our tyre fitter told me the edges don't matter. He was 100% genuine, but that would mean that the Government web site is wrong.
Once there is no visible tread on the edge, the tyre should be replaced, surely?

SpudGunPaul

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/27/made

DraftyShed

That was the original regulation as it was at the time of writing. See the amendment -
"The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1990" Section 9 (can't post link).

In a nutshell if the vehicles in question aren't over 3500kg gross weight then the 1.6mm tread depth rule across central 3/4 band applies (not 1mm) and the rule about visible tread across whole tyre doesn't apply. Edges of the tyre (up to 1/8 of tread width each side) can be completely bald and still be legal, as long as no cords are showing.

DraftyShed

Forgot to add that the amendment also doesn't apply if the vans are classed a passenger vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats.

sevenhills

DraftyShed said:

Edges of the tyre (up to 1/8 of tread width each side) can be completely bald and still be legal, as long as no cords are showing.

Not sure I agree, since the rules on the Government web site don't state that.
Also the Government rules state 3/4 of the tread and the remaining 1/4 with visible tread. So your 1/8 bare with 1/8 of visible tread would be ok.

DraftyShed

The MOT manual explains it a bit clearer than the regulations do.

Section 5.2.3 - 

"The following vehicles first used on or after 3 January 1933 need 1.6mm tread depth:

• passenger vehicles with a maximum of 8 passenger seats, excluding the driver’s seat
• goods vehicles or dual-purpose vehicles not exceeding 3,500kg DGW
• tricycles with an ULW more than 410kg and all quadricycles

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’)"

"The following vehicles must have 1.0mm tread depth:

• vehicles first used before 3 January 1933
• passenger vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats excluding the driver’s seat
• tricycles with an ULW not exceeding 410kg with an engine capacity greater than 50cc
• tricycles with an ULW not exceeding 410kg which are electrically powered

The tread pattern must be visible over the whole tread area (see diagram 2), and have a depth of at least 1.0mm throughout a single band of at least three-quarters over any section of the breadth of tread round the entire outer circumference of the tyre."

DraftyShed

So ultimately if the vans you mentioned are minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats then the tyre fitter is wrong and the tyres need to have visible tread on the edges.
If the vans are goods vehicle no more than 3500kg gross weight then the tyre fitter is correct and the edges can be bald.

sevenhills

DraftyShed said:

So ultimately if the vans you mentioned are minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats then the tyre fitter is wrong and the tyres need to have visible tread on the edges.
If the vans are goods vehicle no more than 3500kg gross weight then the tyre fitter is correct and the edges can be bald.

That's fair enough, but minibuses are safe, but vans are not.
Ours are minibuses, so the tyres need replacing.
Once there is no tread, there is nothing to measure, so the stage after that are bare cords, when it will be dangerous. Thanks.

sevenhills

It had a new drivers side tyre and it's stated that the tracking was done in January 2022, 9,000 miles ago, not sure about the n/s

diystarter7

Hi

Best tracking is the 4 wheel Hunter machines I think they are. Even those that cant do a good job get it right on those machines

In 202 my Merc a C class, was wearing tyres on the edge, low miles and ball joints change still doing it  and it used to pull to the left - once on aHunter machine, drove as good as new

Be aware, caution is advised, with the roads in England full of holes etc, tracking can quickly go off

Thanks

sevenhills

DraftyShed said:

The MOT manual explains it a bit clearer than the regulations do.

Section 5.2.3 - 

"The following vehicles first used on or after 3 January 1933 need 1.6mm tread depth:

• passenger vehicles with a maximum of 8 passenger seats, excluding the driver’s seat
• goods vehicles or dual-purpose vehicles not exceeding 3,500kg DGW
• tricycles with an ULW more than 410kg and all quadricycles

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’)"

"The following vehicles must have 1.0mm tread depth:

• vehicles first used before 3 January 1933
• passenger vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats excluding the driver’s seat
• tricycles with an ULW not exceeding 410kg with an engine capacity greater than 50cc
• tricycles with an ULW not exceeding 410kg which are electrically powered

The tread pattern must be visible over the whole tread area (see diagram 2), and have a depth of at least 1.0mm throughout a single band of at least three-quarters over any section of the breadth of tread round the entire outer circumference of the tyre."

I have spoken to a few people at work and they seem to avoid a direct answer. 
We have our own MOT garage, at appears that they do their own MOTs? I find that strange.

Is there a printable MOT for passenger carrying vehicles? I want a simple print out for our notice board.