What is the legal minimum tread depth in the UK?

Legal tread depth in the UK

The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width, around the entire circumference of the tyre.

Penalties

Driving with tread below the legal minimum carries a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per illegal tyre. With four illegal tyres, that could mean £10,000 in fines and 12 points, enough for an automatic driving ban.

Motorcycle minimum

For motorcycles over 50cc, the legal minimum is 1mm.

Safety recommendation

Many safety organisations recommend replacing at 3mm, as wet braking performance drops significantly between 3mm and 1.6mm.