Tyre Tread Depth in Winter: Legal Limit vs Safe Limit
The UK tyre tread depth legal limit is 1.6mm, but is that safe in winter? How to do the 20p test, what the MOT checks and when to change tyres early.
Car repair guides
229 plain-English guides to brakes, servicing, timing belts, warning lights, MOTs and classic cars, written from real jobs across Canterbury, Dover, Deal and East Kent. Need it fixed? We come to you.
Pick a topic, or scroll through all 229 guides grouped by subject.
Pads, discs, brake fluid, oil and servicing: what to check, what it costs and when to book.
Timing belts, water pumps, coolant leaks and overheating, explained by a working mechanic.
What each dashboard light means, whether it is safe to drive and what to check first.
Pre-MOT checks, common failures, advisories and what to do if your car fails.
Servicing, recommissioning and mechanical restoration for classic and vintage cars.
Local guides for Aylesham, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Sandwich and the villages we cover.
Labour £30 to £50 per hour depending on the job. Send your reg number for a price before any work starts.

The UK tyre tread depth legal limit is 1.6mm, but is that safe in winter? How to do the 20p test, what the MOT checks and when to change tyres early.