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Diagnostics & EmissionsHow To Check Your Tyre Tread and Pressure
10 June 2026 · 4 min read min read
The Legal Limit
The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, measured across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its full circumference. Driving below this limit risks a fine and points per tyre, and it seriously affects your car's grip in the wet.
Tread depth does not wear evenly across a tyre, so it is worth checking in a few different spots rather than just one — a tyre can look fine at a glance but be borderline at the edge.
The 20p Test
The simplest home check needs no equipment: insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves. If the outer band of the coin is covered by tread, you are above the legal minimum. If you can see the outer band clearly, your tread is too low and the tyre needs replacing.
Do this test at several points around each tyre, including near the edges, since uneven wear from poor tracking or alignment can mean one part of the tyre is legal while another is not.
Correct Pressures
Correct tyre pressure is just as important as tread depth — under-inflated tyres wear faster, handle worse, and increase fuel consumption, while over-inflated tyres reduce grip and give a harsher ride. Your car's recommended pressures are on a sticker inside the driver's door or in the handbook.
Check pressures when tyres are cold, ideally before a journey rather than after, since driving heats the tyres and gives an artificially high reading.
When To Replace
Beyond the legal minimum, watch for uneven wear patterns, cracking in the sidewall, or bulges, all of which mean a tyre should be replaced regardless of tread depth. Uneven wear across the tyre can also be a sign your wheel alignment needs checking.
At Millfields Auto Services in Bilston, we check tread, pressure and alignment as part of every service, and can fit new tyres while you wait. Call us on 01902 492116 or book online.
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