CARRYING out a simple check on your car can help you avoid costly fines and penalty points.
And according to the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), this quick step is one of the most important checks you can make on your car.
The auto experts explained that checking your legal tyre tread depth is an essential job.
Since the tyres are the only contact point between your vehicle and the road, safety can become compromised if they are past their best.
Harsh penalties
The RAC broke down the other reprecussions motorists can face for ignoring this check.
Driving a car with bald tyres can risk a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points, per tyre.
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That means if all four of your tyres are worn below the legal limit, you could potentially be summoned to court.
This could lead to the loss of your driving licence as well as a fine of £10,000.
Quick check
The legal tyre tread depth limit for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
By law, the tread depth must meet this minimum requirement across its complete circumference.
However, most experts recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm for tyre replacement.
UK technical organisation MIRA found that once tyres are below 3mm, stopping distances increase dramatically.
The difference in wet braking distance between a tyre worn to 3mm and one worn to 1.6mm can be as much as 44%.
If there’s less tread depth, less water can be shifted, increasing the risk of aquaplaning and losing grip.
In heavy rain, each tyre can shift one gallon of water every second, so a deeper tread can improve grip.
A simple test can determine your minimum tyre tread depth and ensure you stay safe and legal on the road, and you don’t even have to visit a mechanic.
In fact, a depth gauge isn’t even neccessary, all you need is a 20p coin.
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Just take the 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre.
If you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.
However, if you can see the band and that section of the coin is still visible, your tyres could be unsafe and require professional inspection by a mechanic.
The RAC suggests drivers conduct the 20p test around every two weeks and before long journeys.
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