Safe Vehicles is one of the five pillars of the Safe System. Ensuring that your tyres are road worthy is key to maintaining a safe vehicle.
In 2020, there were 6 people killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s roads where tyres in poor conditions were a contributory factor.
Tread Depth
Cars, including light vans and light trailers must, as per the Highway Code, have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.
The tread depth for motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles is 1 mm.
Safe Vehicles is one of the five pillars of the Safe System. Ensuring that your tyres are road worthy is key to maintaining a safe vehicle.
Tread Depth
Cars, including light vans and light trailers must, as per the Highway Code, have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.
The tread depth for motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles is 1 mm.
Tyre inflation
When inflating your tyres you should refer to the vehicles manufactures handbook which will guide you on how much you should inflate your tyres. The amount of air can depend on the load being carried in your vehicle, i.e. how many passengers you have. It is important that you check your tyres for any cuts and bulge’s, or other defects, such as screws/nails.
When checking tyre pressure you should do this when tyres are cold before a journey to give you an accurate reading, as warm or hot tyres may not be as accurate. If your tyres are not correctly inflated, whether this be under or over inflated, this can affect both your steering and brakes.
Further information on vehicle safety can be found on the Highway Code:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-6-vehicle-maintenance-safety-and-security
Numbering on tyres
Each tyre has a set of numbers that tell you the information for your tyre, including the size. An example can be seen below:
205 / 55 R16 91V
205 – Width
55 – Profile
16 – Rim Size
91 – Load size
V – Speed rating
If you are in any doubt in regards to the safety of your tyres, please consult with a specialist immediately.
