What depth of tread do new tyres have?

[Ingwe]

When the van was serviced in November, there was a note on the invoice that the front tyres had 3mm depth remaining with the legal limit of 1.5mm. The tyres on the rear are nearly nine years old so they must be replaced.

So we were considering whether to simply buy four new tyres or to leave the 3mm front tyres for a year or so before replacing them. We were wondering how deep a new tyre‘s thread is so that we can gauge what percentage the 3mm is of a new tyre.

Will also need to get under the van to check on the spare which, to the best of our knowledge, has never been used. In which event it is also nine years old And should probably also be replaced.

 

[Lenny HB]

New tyres are 8 to 10 mm tread depth. Some countries require a minium of 3mm in the winter Germany is one.
I changed all of mine when they were down to 4mm on the front & 4.5mm on the rear, they were 3 years old. Might have changed them a little bit early but wanted to get rid of the awful Michelin camping tyres.

 

[Ingwe]

Ok, I agree the need to replace all round. No price on safety.

 

[Clivefog]

Around 8mm on a normal car tyre. May be more on van tyres and/or mud and snow types?

 

[Ingwe]

New tyres are 8 to 10 mm tread depth. Some countries require a minium of 3mm in the winter Germany is one.
I changed all of mine when they were down to 4mm.

Including the spare?

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[Lenny HB]

Including the spare?

Of course.

 

[Fdhadi]

Legal limit is 1.6mm not 1.5mm

 

[SpeedyDux]

New tyres are 8 to 10 mm tread depth. Some countries require a minium of 3mm in the winter Germany is one.
I changed all of mine when they were down to 4mm on the front & 4.5mm on the rear, they were 3 years old. Might have changed them a little bit early but wanted to get rid of the awful Michelin camping tyres.

I am planning to replace all 4 Michelin camper tyres next year at the latest, even though they will still have most of their tread left especially the rears. The harsh ride seems to get worse as the tyres age. Well, that's my impression. Hate the bluddy things. If it wasn't for the excellent cab seats it would be intolerable to travel very far.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not just the harsh ride on the Michelins but the lack of grip there are flipping dangerous.

 

[cmcardle75]

Legal limit is 1.6mm not 1.5mm

Indeed, for < 3500kg. For larger, it is 1mm. Personally, I replace below 2mm in both cases. Some go for 3mm.

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[Coolcats]

New tyres are 8 to 10 mm tread depth. Some countries require a minium of 3mm in the winter Germany is one.
I changed all of mine when they were down to 4mm on the front & 4.5mm on the rear, they were 3 years old. Might have changed them a little bit early but wanted to get rid of the awful Michelin camping tyres.

Same here 3mm and below increases the risk of aqua planing or less grip in wet weather nothing like good tread depth, I always change all tyres even if its just the front at 3mm the only exception I made was where one vehicle I had the rears would need changing every 3,00o-5,000 miles (£500 each) and the fronts would last a good 20,000-25,000 then I would change out the fronts every 10,000-15,000

 

[Ingwe]

Not just the harsh ride on the Michelins but the lack of grip there are flipping dangerous.

On our car (a Vauxhall Zafira), bought from Evans Halshaw, it came fitted with Rotala (sp?) tyres. We were turning off the A1 to the A104 just south of Charles de Gaulle when suddenly, it was as if we’d hit a patch of oil. We spun through 180° finding ourselves facing cars coming up the slipway. Through sheer luck they avoided us and we also avoided the high concrete edges to the slipway.
We continued on gingerly to the first garage where I checked the tyres. No sign of any oil or other visible cause. We drove on gingerly not above 40 m.p.h. til we reached our destination.

I then looked up “Rotalla tyres”on the internet and was horrified. We bought a whole set of Pirellis from a tyre place in France. When we returned to UK, my wife (who’s car it is), went straight round to Evans Halshaw and tore such a strip off of them and menaced them with proceedings under Consumer Protection Act. In the event, we didn’t do so and their manager undertook to check their entire stock were free of Rotallas.

 

[tacr2man]

iirc the B F Goodrich AT Tyres that quite a few vans are fitting now are 11.9mm new .