Bald tyres aren’t just illegal — they’re dangerous. In this quick guide, we reveal the three clear signs your tyres have reached the danger zone, plus how to check tread depth using simple at-home methods. Learn when it’s time to replace your tyres to stay safe, avoid fines, and maintain full control on the road.
If your tyres are bald, it means that they have surpassed the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. This is not only dangerous, but also illegal, and can result in fines and penalties on your driving licence.
An MOT will result in an automatic failure if you arrive at the test with bald tyres, and you will find that your ability to brake quickly, steer properly, and control your vehicle is excessively compromised.
With that in mind then, what are the signs of bald tyres and what should you be checking on a regular basis to ensure that your tyres do not become bald?
1. Squealing Tyres
If tyres do not have sufficient tread around their edge, they can start to squeal and skid when accelerating, braking, or going around corners.
This is because the tyres do not have the appropriate amount of grip on the surface and so skid sideways slightly while driving – causing the unpleasant sound.
2. Reduced Traction and Grip
If your car feels a little unstable while driving, especially when braking and accelerating or navigating sharp turns, then this could be due to a lack of grip between the tyres and the road surface.
3. Uneven Tread Wear
By the time you notice uneven wear to the rubber tread on your tyres, you should also have spotted the visible signs of balding tyres too.
However, it’s worth noting that a bald tyre can lead to uneven wear on the other tyres, owing to the lack of stability while driving.
So, if you spot that one or more tyres is exhibiting signs of uneven wear and tear on the tread, check the other tyres. The chances are that one or more of them may have become bald.
How to Check For Balding on Your Tyres
As you drive on your tyres, you start to wear down the tyre tread. This is a natural part of driving and is something that all vehicle owners should be aware of and vigilant about when maintaining their vehicle.
As mentioned at the start of this article, the legal minimum tread depth limit is 1.6mm in the UK – with general recommendations being to look at replacing tyres once they move beyond a 3mm tread depth reading. Anything beyond this 3mm marker is bordering on bald.
The best ways to check this tread depth and avoid driving on bald tyres include:
- The 20p trick, sliding a 20p coin into the tread pattern and seeing if the border is visible or not. If it is, your tyres are bald.
- Use a tyre tread depth gauge
- Look for the tread depth marker. When this becomes visible and sits level with the outer edge of the rubber, you have hit the legal minimum tread limit and should replace tyres
Alternatively, an MOT tester will let you know when your tyres are nearing their legal limit. Or you can head to your local garage and ask them to check your tyre tread among other things as part of an overall vehicle maintenance check and service.
