One of my tyres is worn similarly to that aswell, plenty of thread in the middle and inside but quite worn on the outside. Havent been pulled for it. Untill i have in my eyes its legal.
3points for an illegal tyre.. but was it illegal?!
- Thread starter coyle
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3points for an illegal tyre.. but was it illegal?!
it looks ok to me tbh, i would take it to 4-5 different mot garages tho rather than just one and get em to put it in writing.
I've been on that site, and that is the same as the printout i got from the MOT centre, i thought that would be enough in the way of proving why i interpited the law in the way i did? the printout i was given today is from the MOT VOSA system, and it says the outer 12.5% edges acan be bald,
However when i showed the officer today that website,and mentioned the MOT printout he said it wasn't correct, and grooves had to be visible.
i took it to 2 MOT centres, and one tyre fitters, all said its ok, but didnt want to put it in writing
that may be the problem i face
Here's your tyre (pictured below) with a fairly accurate guess as to where the central 3/4 of the tread should be. It looks like you have tread showing in the area that appears to be required.
However, just to be safe can you measure the tread depth at points A, B and C? Are you sure they're all above 1.6mm? If B or C are below 1.6mm you may be still be stung for have a tyre with an illegal tread depth.
I do wonder if perhaps the Police officer may have used this section as shown below:
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross train weight (GTW) over 3500kgs or a motorcycle above 50cc must, either:
1. The grooves of the tread pattern must have a depth of a least 1 mm throughout a continuous band measuring at least three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre, OR
2. if the grooves of the original tread pattern of the tyre do not extend beyond three-quarters of the breadth of the tread (i.e. common with motorcycle tyres) any groove of the original pattern must have a minimum depth of at least 1 mm.
If you look at this web link - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dandkeblack/trafficcops/tyrelaw.htm - and scroll down to the section mentioned above, you'll see pictures of tyres showing that the pattern must be visible OUTSIDE the 75% area for the tyre to remain legal. However, this only applies to "any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross train weight (GTW) over 3500kgs or a motorcycle above 50cc". Just maybe the incorrect regulation has been applied in your case?
Either way, your tracking is out and your tread is getting borderline, especially considering the winter weather round the corner and the need for tyres in good condition. Definitely worth changing for your own safety if nothing else
However, just to be safe can you measure the tread depth at points A, B and C? Are you sure they're all above 1.6mm? If B or C are below 1.6mm you may be still be stung for have a tyre with an illegal tread depth.
I do wonder if perhaps the Police officer may have used this section as shown below:
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross train weight (GTW) over 3500kgs or a motorcycle above 50cc must, either:
1. The grooves of the tread pattern must have a depth of a least 1 mm throughout a continuous band measuring at least three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre, OR
2. if the grooves of the original tread pattern of the tyre do not extend beyond three-quarters of the breadth of the tread (i.e. common with motorcycle tyres) any groove of the original pattern must have a minimum depth of at least 1 mm.
If you look at this web link - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dandkeblack/trafficcops/tyrelaw.htm - and scroll down to the section mentioned above, you'll see pictures of tyres showing that the pattern must be visible OUTSIDE the 75% area for the tyre to remain legal. However, this only applies to "any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross train weight (GTW) over 3500kgs or a motorcycle above 50cc". Just maybe the incorrect regulation has been applied in your case?
Either way, your tracking is out and your tread is getting borderline, especially considering the winter weather round the corner and the need for tyres in good condition. Definitely worth changing for your own safety if nothing else
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Sounds like the police not knowing which rules to enforce.
Same as when they try to give a ticket to Bravo owners for having their foglight on - when in reality it's a turning light but they don't listen do they?
Same as when they try to give a ticket to Bravo owners for having their foglight on - when in reality it's a turning light but they don't listen do they?
that should be official enough.
the mk1 kid
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This is an interesting one - i'm really pleased you're going about it the right way, and not shouting and stamping your feet.
I'll be amazed if there are double standards, and even more interested to hear what gets done about it if the PC in question has got the correct act/section/class of vehicle.
Cheers and good luck!!
Tom
I'll be amazed if there are double standards, and even more interested to hear what gets done about it if the PC in question has got the correct act/section/class of vehicle.
Cheers and good luck!!
Tom
its a pretty crappy situation but I would not use that tyre on a wet road if it was my car
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Not the point though...its classed as legal
Correct, im not debating if the tyre is pretty crap or not, i changed it now because it was so close to the legal limit, but it is still legal and i shouldn't have got a FPN for it
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Take it to court!. Would have to be right tards in the magistrates to punish you for that. I've MOT'd worse
Hope you got your tracking done with your new tyre(s)
its all in the post now, my 2 page letter, pics of tyre, printout from VOSA Mot handbook, photocopy of uk tyre law..Take it to court!. Would have to be right tards in the magistrates to punish you for that. I've MOT'd worse
Hope you got your tracking done with your new tyre(s)
all in my favour.. so i'll keep you informed of how it plans out
Just an observation - just reading johnw's link.
I don't think it's about tread depth so much as about missing pattern.
there may be 1.6mm across 75% but on the far left, the tyre looks badly scuffed.
Of the pattern either side of the vertical bands, the pattern on the left is 20% smaller than the pattern on the right (through being scuffed).
In the OP "but im 99% the correct law is that the central 75% of the tyre must have at least 1.6mm of tread available. and the remaining 12.5% on each side can be devoid of all tread as long as the wire/thread is not sticking through.."
johnw's link clearly says the pattern must be visible - no matter if it's 12.5 either side or 25% one side or the other.
Although the link does state that this is for vehicles with a gvw above 3500kg or motorcycles - maybe things have changed?
I don't think it's about tread depth so much as about missing pattern.
there may be 1.6mm across 75% but on the far left, the tyre looks badly scuffed.
Of the pattern either side of the vertical bands, the pattern on the left is 20% smaller than the pattern on the right (through being scuffed).
In the OP "but im 99% the correct law is that the central 75% of the tyre must have at least 1.6mm of tread available. and the remaining 12.5% on each side can be devoid of all tread as long as the wire/thread is not sticking through.."
johnw's link clearly says the pattern must be visible - no matter if it's 12.5 either side or 25% one side or the other.
Although the link does state that this is for vehicles with a gvw above 3500kg or motorcycles - maybe things have changed?
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