Should I change tyres at 3mm?

Replacing tyres at 3mm

Legally tyres in the UK must have a minimum of 1.6mm tread, but a load of safety arguments can be made for an earlier change.

3 mm

Independent tests show braking distances in wet conditions begin to deteriorate once the tread depth drops to 3 mm. In fact, wet braking can be as much as 44% worse at 1.6 mm than at 3 mm. This means several extra metres needed to stop, and potentially a crash.

3 mm vs 1.6 mm

Changing early is not legally required. You are able to continue driving on tyres worn down to 1.6 mm. However, the tread being below 3 mm is a dangerous situation if wet driving conditions are a commonality in your driving environment (as is the case in the UK). For this reason, many driving and safety organisations and the manufacturers of tyres advocate for 3 mm.