Your tyres are the only thing connecting your car to the road - and the law takes them seriously. Here's what's legal, what isn't, and what it could cost you in 2026.
The minimum legal tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm, measured across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its entire circumference. That's the legal floor, not a target: independent testing shows wet braking distances increase sharply once tread drops below 3mm, which is why most manufacturers and safety experts recommend replacing at around 3mm.
Legal tread is no use on a damaged tyre. Tyres must be free from lumps, bulges, cuts and tears. Any damage that reaches or exposes the ply or steel cords makes the tyre illegal - and dangerous.
You must not fit radial and cross-ply tyres on the same axle - it's illegal. Mixing summer, winter and all-season tyres isn't banned, but for balanced handling it's best to match tyres across an axle, ideally across the whole car.
No - carrying a spare tyre is not a legal requirement. But if you do carry one, it must itself be legal and roadworthy. (See our spare wheel vs repair kit guide.)
Part worn tyres can be sold legally, but only if they meet strict standards including at least 2mm of tread and a permanent "PART WORN" marking. In practice, most on sale don't - read our full part worn tyres guide before you buy.
There's no blanket age limit for car tyres, but manufacturers typically recommend replacing them after 7-10 years regardless of tread, as rubber hardens and degrades with age. For heavy vehicles the rules are stricter: since 1 February 2021, tyres over 10 years old have been banned from the front axles of lorries, buses and coaches, and from all single wheels of minibuses.
Unlike some European countries, winter tyres are not a legal requirement in the UK. They can be a sensible choice if you regularly drive in snow and ice, but you won't be breaking the law without them.
Driving on an illegal tyre can mean a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points - and that's per tyre. With all four tyres illegal, you could in theory face a £10,000 fine and 12 points, which is enough to lose your licence.
“The fine is the least of it. The scary part is what those numbers mean at 70mph on the A19 in the wet - under 3mm your stopping distance grows fast. We'd always rather check your tyres for free and give you an honest answer than see anyone take that risk.”
1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference.
Up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre. With all four illegal, that's a potential £10,000 fine and 12 penalty points.
Legally you can run to 1.6mm, but most experts recommend replacing at around 3mm because wet braking performance drops off sharply below that.
No. Unlike some EU countries, winter tyres are not legally required in the UK.
Not for cars, though 7-10 years is the usual guidance. For lorries, buses and coaches, tyres over 10 years old have been banned on front axles since February 2021.
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