With the tyre tread one of the most important components to check on a regular basis, it’s important to arm yourself with a method that you can remember and that allows you to check the overall tread depth with ease.
For many drivers, the best solution is by using the side of a single coin – but which coin should you use, and what does it tell you?
Which Coin Do You Need
Look at a series of coins, and you will notice that most boast a number on one side with the Queen or King’s head on the other side. The other features differ, depending on the value of the coin.
However, only one coin can accurately be used to check tyre tread and ensure it sits above the legal minimum limit of 1.6mm.
The 20p coin is the one you need if you want to try this DIY approach to tread checking.
What Does the 20p Coin Tell You?
The border that sits around the edge of the 20p coin, measures at 1.6mm.
This means that if you slot a 20p coin into the grooves on your tyre, and you cannot see the border once the coin is touching the base of the groove, then your tyre tread is more than 1.6mm. In short, it remains legal to drive.
If, however, when the coin is touching the bottom of the groove you are able to see some of that border, the tread does not measure 1.6mm and so is too shallow.
How Often Should You Check?
The 20p coin trick is best used every few months; to keep track of your tread depth and ensure it remains well above that legal minimum.
It’s not enough to simply check one part of the tyre, however. Ideally, you need to be checking a number of different spots across the width and around the outer circumference of the tyre, to make sure that the wear on that tyre tread is even.
Uneven tyre tread wear can lead to a loss of control or a higher risk of punctures and blowouts. The best way to avoid this is to undertake regular tread checks across the whole tyre, and make sure tyres are aligned and inflated to the correct pressure.
