How much tread is on a new tyre?

New tyre tread depth

A brand new car tyre typically starts with around 7 to 8mm of tread depth. Some premium and SUV tyres may start with slightly more.

Usable tread life

Given the legal minimum of 1.6mm and the recommended replacement point of 3mm, you have roughly 4 to 5mm of effective usable tread. In practical terms, this means:

• At the legal minimum (1.6mm): approximately 5.4 to 6.4mm of usable tread
• At the recommended 3mm replacement point: approximately 4 to 5mm of usable tread

How long this lasts in miles depends on tyre quality, driving style, tyre pressure and wheel alignment. Check your tread depth regularly to keep track of how your tyres are wearing.