Tyre safety isn’t just about tread depth — perishing can silently compromise control, grip, and braking performance. This article explains what “slightly perished” tyres really mean, the risks of continuing to drive on them, and how to spot early signs of tyre ageing before it becomes dangerous.
The tyres of your car are the only component that makes constant contact with the road. Not only do they impact the performance and comfort of every journey, but they play an integral role in safety and in maintaining complete control over the vehicle at all times.
Suffice to say, to keep a car in good working order, the tyres need to be in optimum condition.
Which leads us to ask – is it safe or even legal to drive on slightly perished tyres?
Well, it all depends on what ‘slightly perished’ tyres are.
What Constitutes a Slightly Perished Tyre?
The most important thing to determine here is what exactly you mean by a ‘slightly perished’ tyre.
As a tyre begins to perish and become excessively worn or even damaged, the structure and therefore the safety of the tyre is compromised.
Both the UK vehicle MOT and UK driving standards recognise a perished tyre as being unsafe and unsuitable for driving. If your tyres show signs of perishing, you should expect to fail your MOT and even receive a fine or points on your licence if you are caught driving on unsuitable tyres.
Some of the signs of a perished tyre include:
- Cracking or splits in the tyre
- Loss of tyre tread
- Fissures between the tyre rim and the sidewall
While very early signs of aging can usually fall under regular wear and tear, once the above signs of perishing become more apparent, it’s time to replace your tyres with new ones.
In short, our advice is always to replace a tyre as soon as it starts to display clear and visible assigns of aging and/or deterioration.
