How to Visually Inspect Your Tyres
Knowing how to check your tyres' tread depth is crucial to the safety and optimum performance of your vehicle.
How to Visually Inspect Your Only Point of Contact with the Road: Your Tyres
Knowing how to check your tyres' tread depth is crucial to the safety and optimum performance of your vehicle. Failure to do so is not only dangerous, it's costly: a £2,500 fine and three penalty points per tyre. And if you are caught with four tyres below the legally accepted limit, you risk losing your license and paying a £10,000 fine.
The legally accepted tyre tread depth is 1.6mm. However, car experts agree that 3mm is a safer operational guideline. The Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) discovered a 44% difference between vehicles' wet braking distance on tyres worn to 3mm versus tyres worn to 1.6mm. The deeper the tread on your tyres, the better they perform.
The easiest way for you to visually inspect your tyres is to do the 20p test for each tyre once per month. It takes less than a minute to complete per tyre. Lodge a 20p coin into the tread marks on your tyre. If you cannot see the outer ring of the 20p coin, your tyre is safe and above the limit. If the outer ring is visible, you need to have your tyres checked, as they are probably unsafe and illegal.
Protyre is the UK's foremost fitter and supplier of tyres. We offer a free check at all our local Protyre garages to ensure our customers are travelling safely and their vehicles are roadworthy.
We Can Help You Choose The Right Tyre
Tyres are essential for keeping your car safe and performing at its best, but with so many options out there, it can be tough to know where to start. That's where our informative articles come in – we're here to help you navigate the world of tyres and make the best choice for your specific needs.
Whether you're considering upgrading to Premium car tyres for enhanced driving dynamics, run flat car tyres for added peace of mind, or trying to decide between summer car tyres and winter car tyres, Protyre can help. Our articles have got you covered with a wide range of tyre-related topics to help you make informed decisions.
The brand you choose matters too. We offer recommendations for trusted names such as BF Goodrich tyres, Bridgestone tyres, Continental tyres, Dunlop tyres, Falken tyres, General tyres, Goodyear tyres, GT Radial tyres , Hankook tyres, Michelin tyres, Pirelli tyres, Runway tyres, Sumitomo tyres, and Toyo tyres. But our articles don't just focus on choosing the right tyres – we also offer practical advice for maintaining them. From simple tips like checking your tread depth and keeping your tyres inflated to the proper pressure, to more advanced topics like extending tyre life through regular rotation and balancing - we've got you covered!
Dive in and discover everything you need to know to keep your car running smoothly and safely with Protyre.
When Should My Car Be Serviced?
It's essential your car is serviced after every 12,000 miles or 12 months. And if you receive a self-diagnostic warning from your vehicle that your service is due, pay attention to it and book your car in at a trusted garage. In addition to safety and performance, you maintain the value of your car if you can show a regular service record from a well-regarded garage. It's a good idea to check your vehicle's service portfolio for your recommended car servicing intervals specific to your model.
Get your vehicle serviced with Protyre - 3-tiered service packages to suit all requirements
If you neglect maintaining and servicing your vehicle, you also risk dealing with MOT retests. Most of the time MOT retests are for preventable issues, such as worn tyre treads. It's good practice for you - and your wallet - to keep an eye on your tyres and book yourself in for free MOT retests at your local Protyre garage.
Protyre is passionate about the safety, performance and durability of our customers' cars. We encourage you to check in with us for a free service if you have any queries relating to your car's service standards and regularity.
MOT due soon? Book your vehicle in with Protyre today. Not sure when your MOT is? Use the MOT Checker below to find out.
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