With time, tyres wear out and so does the tread depth. The depth reduces and causes difficulties in handling. A simple way to minimise this risk is to check tread depth regularly. It is a simple task and an important one at that.
Most people tend to check the Dunlop Tyres Nottingham only before an MOT test. You may own a luxury car or an affordable one, but tyre tread depth will always be responsible for traction and grip. Ideal depth offers perfect traction and grip, enabling the drivers to experience flawless handling and a safe ride. There won’t be any risk to you, the passengers, or other drivers.
The new cars have additional safety mechanisms such as ABS, EBP to improve the grip on the road. However, a poor tread depth will render these systems ineffective. That’s why you should check the tyre tread depth more often.
IMPORTANCE OF TYRE TREADS
You know that tyres are the sole contact between the car and the road. Only a small portion of the tyre touches the road while driving. So, having a strong grip is vital. And this is only made possible by the tyre treads.
A tyre has ribs, grooves, and sipes on the surface that work together to grip the road properly. The depth of the grooves is also known as tyre tread depth. Just by measuring the tread depth, you can know how worn out your tyres are. Less-worn tyres have deep treads, thus, providing a sturdy grip.
On wet roads, a layer of water gets stuck between tyres and roads. This phenomenon is called aquaplaning. The treads help in displacing the water fast enough so that the grip remains strong. If the depth is low, the car would slip on the water, and it’ll become difficult to brake or handle the car.
These points prove that it is important to maintain the condition of your tyres. If they are worn out, it’s better to change them as soon as possible.
Read on and you’ll find out some useful things about tyre depth.
MINIMUM REQUIRED TYRE DEPTH
A brand new tyre will have about 8mm of tread depth.
The UK law requires car owners to have at least 1.6mm of tread depth across 75% of the tyres. If you imagine a tread line on the tyre surface, then the tread depth measured across this line should be more than 1.6mm. 75% of the surface of the tyre should have this much depth.
However, the reality is somewhat different. Experts recommend changing the tyres when the depth reaches 3mm. The performance of tyres reduces drastically below this point.
DEPTH INDICATORS
The tyre companies have made it easy for the owners to check the tyre depth. There are rectangular ridges, known as tread wear indicators, embedded in the rubber. They approach the road as the tyre wears out.
It’s advisable to check the tyres once in a week or two. A simple look will tell you the condition of the tyres. If the indicators are parallel to the surface of the tyres, you should get your tyres changed.
HOW TO CHECK THE DEPTH MANUALLY?
The wear indicators are a decent and quick way to check the status of your tread depth. However, sometimes it might be necessary to have a closer look. You don’t have to be an expert or call a garage for this task, as it requires only a 20p coin.
All you need to do is hold the coin with your thumb and index finger and place the edge in the tread gap. You can insert the coin at multiple points and check the depth. The rims of a 20p coin are about 3mm deep. So, if the tread depth matches the coin, the tyre is safe. Otherwise, it is time to change the tyres.
An alternate method is to purchase a tread depth measuring device from a car store. It is an affordable way to check the tyre tread depth. Tyres Nottingham tread depth is not a thing that should be overlooked. Your safety and those around you depend on it. If you are having trouble checking the depth, go to a garage, and they’ll help you out. The experts can even assess for other problems in the tyres.
