Our cars are often important. Following this, if you have been looking to drive around the country, making sure your vehicle is legal is integral. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be rocket science. As part of this, there are a couple of simple tyre laws you should know.
What if my Tyres Are Illegal?
If your tyres don’t meet legal requirements, you must get them changed immediately! Driving with an unsafe tyre could get you in a lot of trouble; plus, it may endanger other road users. As such, we cannot stress the importance of checking your tyres often enough.
Of course, if you send your car for an MOT with illegal tyres, these will cause the vehicle to fail. This will also show on your vehicle’s MOT records, which can be viewed using a car checker. Remember, though: just because a car previously failed its MOT for poor tyres doesn’t mean they are still bad. The tyres will likely have changed since then; still, always double check the tyres before you hand over any money for a new car, just to be safe.
Simple UK Tyre Laws You Should Know
UK tyre laws are numerous. However, as a driver, getting these wrong is potentially risky. Fortunately, you shouldn’t have to stress about this; still, make sure you keep the following points in mind to help you stay in line with legislation.
The most critical thing to consider is safety. Indeed, your car’s tyres should always be fit for purpose. If you suspect your car’s tyres aren’t up to the task, you may want to ask your mechanic for their thoughts. They should be able to let you know if your tyres are safe or need replacing.
Of course, in addition to being fit for purpose, they should also be safe and secure. As such, your tyres should not have any splits or tears, nor should they bulge out unusually. Furthermore, all tyre treads should be suitably deep, and there should not be excessive wear that could compromise safety.
It’s worth noting that many people will keep a spare tyre in their car in case an accident should happen. Surprisingly, there’s no requirement for this. However, if you do need to use a spare tyre at any point, ensuring it is safe and legal is paramount. For example, a worn old tyre with less than 1.6mm of tread depth is illegal as a replacement.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your tyres in good nick is crucial. This isn’t just for personal reasons, either. Indeed, it’s actually law to keep your tyres in a safe condition. And, luckily, some of today’s simple tips may help. However, always keep in mind here that it’s not just your tyres that can influence the safety of your vehicle. Luckily, running a car history check can allow you to quickly view the history of your car. In turn, this allows you to more accurately look after your car, with knowledge of past problems and the like.