Tyre Regulations to Note

24 July 2020

The Government have announced a ban on tyres for coaches, buses and lorries that are 10 years old and older. 

This means that it is illegal to fit tyres that are 10-year-old or older on coaches, buses and lorries.

This is the latest initiative from the Government to help tackle road safety and forms part of a wider plan which is outlined here.

We wanted to use this as a reminder over the importance of tyre safety for cars – not just commercial vehicles.

The legal minimum tyre tread varies from car to car; however, tyres should never be bald and should be at least 1.6mm around the whole tyre.

The easiest way to check this is to get 20 pence coin and place it into the ‘groove’ of the tyre. If you can’t see the outer rim of the 20p the likelihood is that your tyres will need to be changing.

While looking at your tyres, it’s also important to check for:

• any unusual lumps in tyres 
• cuts or tears in the side of the tyre

Tyres should be checked frequently but importantly, from season to season.

The condition of the tyres is so important as it impacts the safety and drive of the car. If tyres are in poor condition it affects the braking and way it responds to drivers’ instructions, especially in wet and wintry conditions.

Finally, it’s worth noting that if your tyres don’t meet the required standard, the car will fail an MOT.

So, waste no time – go and check your tyres and check they are legal.