What tread depth do you replace your tyres?
What tread depth do you replace your tyres?
Author
Discussion

Ben9999

Original Poster:

31 posts

95 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
Just had my tyres done and interested to know at what tread depth people tend to replace tyres. Would also be interesting to know what car you drive and if it's Front wheel, 4 wheel or rear wheel drive smile

I tend to start noticing increased tendency to wheel spin at about 3.5mm. It's a Lease car so have to wait until I'm at 2mm.

I drive a seat Ibiza FR. It's front wheel and 150BHP so wheel spins pretty easily if you want it to.

Benjijames28

1,702 posts

114 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
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I suppose around 3mm

BrewsterBear

1,548 posts

214 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
3mm. Below that I can tell a noticeable drop off in grip in both wet and dry conditions.

Fleckers

2,878 posts

223 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
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About 2.5 / 3 MM

Prinny

1,669 posts

121 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
These days, I do so little mileage, I tend to replace the car before I need another set of tyres. But then it’s also very rare for me to buy a car & not immediately put tyres on it.

That said, Age >5 years regardless of wear, I’d change, otherwise:
Summer @ 3mm
Winter @ 4mm ( there’s usually a second wear indicator on a winter tyre - once it hits that, it’s not legally a winter tyre in Germany anymore (IIRC)). They’re certainly less good below that point when in snow/ice conditions

Burgerbob

491 posts

99 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
https://www.michelin.com/eng/media-room/press-and-...

I aim for 2mm or less, just before they hit the legal limit. A little more care is needed in the wet though.

The above is an interesting read...

eliot

11,987 posts

276 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
As soon as they are down to the wear indicators

Buff Mchugelarge

3,316 posts

172 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
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1.95mm is fine but 1.7 and under is noticeable.

MorganP104

2,605 posts

152 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
I'm going to do it.

I really am.

I'm going to say something very un-PH.

Really, really un-PH.











I wait until my mechanic/MoT tester mentions tyres.

There, I did it.

Cold

16,359 posts

112 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
8mm.

Frances The Mute

1,816 posts

263 months

Friday 30th March 2018
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It depends on the tyre and the car it’s fitted to. Basically, I change them when I feel handling has been compromised.
Some have been between 3 & 3.5mm and others have been close to the limit.

Strudul

1,599 posts

107 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
MorganP104 said:
I wait until my mechanic/MoT tester mentions tyres.

There, I did it.
Ballsy move at the risk of a £10k fine and 12 points...

CrgT16

2,410 posts

130 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
I am quite happy with changing mine closer to my he limit. Not once had a problem with it but I drive to the conditions of the road and car. The rears are now a bit less than 3mm in yesterday’s pouring rain it was perfectly safe and in the dry no issues so, in my view, just drive to the conditions of car/weather/road and in normal circumstances it’s fine to change them at around 2nm. Maybe up north with th more snow and rain things are different.

Also in the south I ersonally never felt a 4x4 would be needed but o make progress but that’s another discussion

Jonno02

2,262 posts

131 months

Friday 30th March 2018
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Got conti sport contact 5's on right now. Thought they've been pretty "meh" the full time. Now the fronts are down at around 2.1mm and the grip is unreal. It's just won't lose any on corners. Really quite confused about that.

jamei303

3,043 posts

178 months

Friday 30th March 2018
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Normally around 3mm unless I plan on selling the car within a few months then I try and eek them out by driving as if the wheels aren't bolted on.

Davie

5,825 posts

237 months

Friday 30th March 2018
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4mm is usually when I start to get nervous... all the cars are on 18's, between 225 and 24 section tyres and hitting standing water at 70mph is frankly terrifying at times with new tyres so as for trying it with tyres at 2mm... no thanks...

alorotom

12,661 posts

209 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
MorganP104 said:
I wait until my mechanic/MoT tester mentions tyres.

There, I did it.
Have to admit, you’re not alone, this has been my method the past few years on the dailies

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

180 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
1.6, I've paid for the whole tyre.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

235 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
Strudul said:
MorganP104 said:
I wait until my mechanic/MoT tester mentions tyres.

There, I did it.
Ballsy move at the risk of a £10k fine and 12 points...
Has that actually ever happened though, to that extreme?

I replace mine at around 2.5mm-3mm.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

130 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
BrewsterBear said:
3mm. Below that I can tell a noticeable drop off in grip in both wet and dry conditions.
I can understand grip levels reducing in the wet when below 3mm, but how does grip reduce in the dry when you go under 3mm?