Are Remoulded Tyres Legal in the UK?

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 by Chesca D
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Remoulded tyres — or re-treaded tyres — offer a budget-friendly way to extend tyre life, but are they safe and road-legal in the UK? In this guide, we explain how remoulding works, what legal standards apply, and whether it’s better to repair or replace your tyres altogether.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, your tyres are one of the most important things to check, inspect, and invest in should they display signs of damage.

Of course, buying replacement tyres is not a particular cheap task. 

It’s because of this, and the cost of new tyres, that drivers start looking into and exploring alternatives – from second hand tyres to remoulded tyres. But which options are both safe and legal to use in the UK?

Let’s take a closer look…

What are Remoulded Tyres?

Remoulded tyres are also known as re-treaded tyres.

These are tyres which are starting to become worn and so have an extra layer of rubber added to the outside of the tread pattern so as to extend their lifespan.

In terms of part worn and second hand tyres, these are some of the rarest that you can find – primarily because they don’t add that much extra use to the tyre and so are not considered really worth the cost.

This is because retreading tyres only realistically adds another 0.5mm or so to the tyre’s tread depth – which in general terms, equates to a few months of extra driving time.

And that’s without considering the caveats and eligibility criteria that tyres have to meet in order to be deemed suitable for remoulding or retreading. 

What Specifications Do Tyres Have to Meet to be Remoulded?

In order for tyres to be safe for remoulding, they need to have at least a 2mm tread depth surrounding the whole tyre. They also need to be structural intact and free from any damage to the tyre structure or sidewall.

This is to ensure that you are not adding more tread depth to a tyre which is structurally unstable or internally damaged.

NOTE: Retreading and remoulding tends to be more common across bus and commercial vehicle tyres, which are more expensive to replace. 

But provided that your tyres meet the above criteria, then yes, it is generally classed as safe to drive on remoulded tyres.

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Should You Remould or Replace Tyres?

If you’ve got tyres which are nearing the legal limit of 1.6mm, then you might be wondering if you should put money into remoulding them or simply replace them.

If you have sufficient tread depth of at least 2mm left on the tyres, then remoulding is an option – however, it will not add much to the lifespan of your tyres. Replacing tyres is a better solution in the long run, once you have worn your existing tyres down to that 1.6mm limit.

And with Tyres.co.uk, the UK’s answer to new tyres for all manner of vehicle types, driver preferences, and overall budgets, finding the right match for your vehicle couldn’t be easier. Get in touch with us to unlock bespoke advice and to discover more about the tyres we have in stock.

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