Tyre tread and MOT requirements by vehicle

Use the rule for the vehicle category

GOV.UK summarises vehicle tread categories and DVSA gives the detailed HGV wording. This table addresses those common categories; buses, minibuses, motorcycles and unusual vehicle classifications require their own applicable guidance.

Check more than one point

Use a suitable tread-depth gauge in the relevant principal grooves and check several positions around the tyre and across the required band. A deep groove at one point does not cancel out a worn section elsewhere. Have inaccessible areas inspected appropriately; do not put yourself under an unsupported vehicle.

A coin can be a rough prompt for a car check, but it is not a precise measurement or a way to approve an HGV tyre. The different HGV requirement is another reason to use a gauge and the correct inspection process.

Understand the limits of an MOT pass

The applicable MOT inspection checks include fitment and condition as well as tread. Visible reinforcement, a structural bulge or unsuitable load capacity can matter even where tread is above the minimum. The DVSA car/light-vehicle tyre inspection section lists the relevant defects.

An MOT or annual-test result records the inspection at that time. The tyre can deteriorate or be damaged afterwards. Maintain checks between tests and deal with new concerns promptly rather than relying on the expiry date of a certificate.

Check tyre age where commercial rules apply

Tyres more than 10 years old must not be used on the front steered axle or axles of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes; further rules apply to buses, coaches and minibuses. DfT explains the covered positions, exceptions and date-code requirements in its commercial tyre age guidance.

The four-digit manufacture code identifies the week and year; for example, 2120 means week 21 of 2020. Do not use tread depth to infer age. Operators should monitor age and condition under their maintenance system, including positions where an older tyre is not automatically prohibited.

The legal minimum is not a maintenance target

A tyre near the limit needs monitoring and a replacement plan. Journey length, wear pattern and upcoming use matter when deciding when to act. Do not plan a trip on the assumption that a barely compliant reading will remain unchanged throughout it.

Uneven wear also deserves investigation. Replacement may deal with the worn tyre, but it does not necessarily resolve an underlying alignment, suspension or pressure issue. Ask about the cause rather than assuming every new tyre will wear evenly.

Prepare for an assessment or replacement

• Confirm vehicle category, registration and affected wheel position.
• Record actual measured tread readings and where they were taken.
• Describe visible damage, pressure loss and wear patterns.
• Supply full tyre markings and age information if safely accessible.
• For fleets, record the concern and action under the operator’s process.

Fix My Tyre provides mobile replacement, not an MOT inspection or certification of the whole vehicle. We confirm the replacement requirement, price and suitable attendance arrangements before a visit is agreed.

Common questions