so when the tread is flush with the indicators it's time for new tyres, but are they still legal ?
rear wheel drive slitheryness made me have a look and going to phone garage tomorrow and get it in for service which is just about due anyway (company car)
Certainly worth getting them replaced by the time they get to that point - legality may depend on whether you've worn down the indicators or not!
Legality aside there is supposed to be a significant drop off in wet weather performance once you get below 3-4mm.
If you want to be pedantic (most people on here do), the law says 1.6mm across 3/4 of the width with the other 25% being visible. No bald patches. Once you reach the war indicator, it is essentially a very small bald patch, therefore illegal. (that's my understanding anyway).
Change 'em!
Unless you drive a "cockmobile", tyres are cheap as chips these days
Once you reach the war indicator, it is essentially a very small bald patch, therefore illegal.
No, it doesn't work like that.
The wear indicator is not part of the tread pattern of a tyre, it is just a wear indicator and, as such, it will be 1.6mm above the grooves of the tread.
In practice, the manufacturers give themselves a bit of a safety margin, so just as speedos always under read the true speed, the wear indicator will be slightly higher than 1.6mm, so as long as the surrounding tread is only just down to the wear indicator,it is still legal.
Short answer, yes it is [i]probably[/i] still legal.
okay - they will be getting changed at the service anyway, which is probs 2 weeks away, but I'll get it done early next week instead. many thanks
yip - BMW with runflats, but as I said it's a company car, so I don't pay for the tyres (well I do in tax, but not directly) 😛Unless you drive a "cockmobile", tyres are cheap as chips these days
Change the runflats for regular tyres - they are much better.
As it's a company car get the best you can. Bridgestone or something like that. You will notice a big improvement.
Zedsdead - I have thought about that but I'd have to get a spare or inflator kit/compressor etc. I don't really drive it close to the limit or anything as it most often pootles with bikes on roof and kids in back.
The improvement in handling far outweighs the cons. Even at normal driving.
When you change the tyres get them to throw in an inflator kit for free and stick a track pump in the boot.
You will thank me....