Do you know what the correct tyre tread depth is?

TO many motorists tyres are only things at each corner of a car that keep us on the road, but how often do we check their tread depth? Be honest, not many do – and it’s highly dangerous to run around with worn rubber.

We know money is tight and the thought of shelling out big money for good new tyres isn’t everyone’s top priority, but why risk it? Good quality tyres are like any insurance you take out. You hope you won’t need it, but when you do, you’ll be glad you’ve got it.

It’s the same with the quality of the tyres you buy when replacements are needed. Most car makers fit premium quality rubber to new models for a reason. They match the performance of the car, the suspension settings and the use the vehicle will be put to. The lowest legal limit for a tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, yet tests show that at this tread depth, tyres are only performing at 55% efficiency, meaning stopping distances are greatly increased in wet conditions.

Most new tyres have 8mm of tread and the difference could save your life. The main purpose of a tyre’s tread pattern is to disperse water when driving in wet conditions, so the volume of tread pattern determines the maximum volume of water it can disperse.

Wet braking tests show that the increase in wet stopping distance, from 50 mph of a tyre at the legal minimum depth compared to a new tyre, can be 42ft. Not good if you have an emergency stop to contend with. And it’s not just braking distance that is affected. A tyre at the legal limit of 1.6mm will see notable deteriorations in cornering control in severe situations.

And it’s not just tread depth that counts for added safety. Quality is just as important. As with everything, you get what you pay for.

There are significant differences between premium and budget tyres which has been made clearer for motorists with the introduction of the EU Tyre Label. Drivers are now provided with further understanding as to the benefits of premium tyres over budget brands. The EU Label promotes low emissions and better road safety, with standardised information focusing on three key criteria: fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise.

With these essential pieces of information, consumers clearly see the difference in wet braking abilities between premium and budget brands.