How to check your tyre depth?

Why to check your tyre depth?

Road Safety Authority states that the minimum required tread depth of tyres should be 1.6 millimetres, so checking your tyres is of the utmost importance if you want to avoid accidents or fines.

The current penalties stand at an €80 fine and as many as four penalty points, should the case reach court. Of course, the penalties could be significantly higher if you cause a collision that is your fault and the result of your faulty tyres, in which case, you could end up with a driving ban, or worse, a prison sentence.

Check Your Tyre Depth

The tread of your tyres is the part that is in constant contact with the road surface and is there to give extra grip, especially in wet or icy conditions. Measuring the tread of your tyres is as easy as purchasing a tread gauge, which is a small handheld device that is inexpensive and readily available at auto supply shops.

Checking your tyres’ tread depth is easy, but first, you must park your car in a secure spot that is also an even and flat surface (don’t try this on a hill), turn off the ignition and make sure the handbrake is applied. If you possess a dedicated tyre gauge device, simply place the device in the groove of each tyre in several places, and you must measure all four tyres to ensure roadworthiness.

Measuring tread depth without a gauge

Thankfully, most modern tyres have a treadwear indicator, which is typically a small rubber nodule that sits in between the grooves of the tyre. Once they are no longer visible, that is the indicator that your tyres need replacing very soon.

Another way to measure the tread depth of your vehicle’s tyres is to use the simple hack of using a €1 coin. Simply place the coin into the groove and if you can see the gold rim, then that indicates that your tread depth is below the 3-millimetre mark and the tyre will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

If you are unsure whether your tyres are below the minimum tread depth requirement, ask your local garage and seek expert advice.