When Do You Change Your Tyres (Tread Depth)

dlp

Member
Dorking
How low is too low? Would you run on three mm? Two mm?

When do you decide to change?
 
andysat said:
Isnt legal minimum 1.6mm?

Yes, but it's probably not the safe minimum in our cars... My company used to change company car tyres when they got to 3mm. I haven't decided when I will change mine yet - think they're at about 4mm on the rears right now so will need to decide soon.
 
The legal limit is 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference but 3 millimetres is about as low as I go since you usually feel them being off in the wet or starting to track ruts and white lines (tram-lining).
 
Bing said:
andysat said:
Isnt legal minimum 1.6mm?

Yes, but it's probably not the safe minimum in our cars... My company used to change company car tyres when they got to 3mm. I haven't decided when I will change mine yet - think they're at about 4mm on the rears right now so will need to decide soon.

Changed my PS3's when they had 2mm after the hoon we had in Surrey last November... was very impressed by how much grip they still had in wet / cold conditions
 
Depends on the time of year as well. If they're getting low and summer is approaching I would probably change them after the summer in time for the worse weather. That's of course assuming we have a summer!
 
Think mine may be less than 4mm - better check. Not doing much mileage at the moment, so no rush. With the way summer has gone so far I'll have my winters back on before they're too low and I can get them sorted at my leisure :roll:

Need to check how many miles I have done on the rears too - how much is 'normal' ?
 
Bing said:
Need to check how many miles I have done on the rears too - how much is 'normal' ?
Anywhere from 1,000 to 100,000 depending on how you drive :P

I get 20k from my rear PSSs, and the fronts still have about 4mm all over after 32,000 miles.
 
Once they hit the wear blocks. The one thing that gave me a shock with #69 was the outer hit a wear block, the inner was bald and one was showing early signs of canvas or whatever the material is! :o

Will be keeping a closer eye on the inner wear where IMmie is concerned.
 
In the summer, as low as I can get away with.

Less tread=greater contact area and more grip. Sure it gets a little dicey in the wet, but what's life without a little fun? :evil:
 
When I changed mine they were bald on the inside shoulders but still hanging on............
 
I shouldn't admit this but:

9f48292c45c7f4c615dc61a54e80e561_zps40f2d657.jpg


The old and the new together (same tyres FK452's)

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9a29bbafc3dd386949c7dbd054ec96b3_zps4ef803db.jpg


I was of the opinion that in summer, no harm done from running pretty much slicks (just be very careful in the wet).

I will change my tyres when they get to the tread blocks from now on (1.6m).

The tyre in the pics blew less than a mile from my parents where I was going to change to winters. I was on a national speed limit single carriage way lined with trees - I was only doing 40 as I had only just noticed how bad the inside was worn!

I have now had Hunter alignment to hopefully ensure less wear on the insides!
 
Bing said:
:o

Lesson learned without mishap at least :thumbsup:

Lesson well and truly learned! Not worth risking over a few ££. A pair of 17 year old lads were killed about 3 years before on the same road because they had a blowout - I can't describe it but I felt weird when I got out the car - I won't be pushing my luck again!
 
Low tread will pretty much double your stopping distance in the wet. ROSPA tested wet stopping on tyres with five tread depths .9 to 6.7 mm, looking at the results I think I'll stick to the 3mm minimum unless it never rains in the UK or I start driving like a vicar (neither of which is likely) :lol:

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/vehiclesafety/tyresafety/tread-depth.aspx
 
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