Car tyres and the law

It is illegal to use a car tyre on the road if:

1. The tyre is unsuitable for the use to which the vehicle or trailer is being put or not suitable relative to the other tyres fitted.

2. It is not properly inflated.

3. Any tyre fitted to the vehicle has a cut or break in the rubber in excess of 25mm or 10% of the section width in length which exposes the casing cords.

4. Any tyre fitted to the vehicle has a lump or bulge caused by separation or partial failure of it's structure.

5. Any tyre fitted to the vehicle has any portion of the ply or cord exposed.

6. a) Tyres of a different structure (i.e. diagonal/cross ply or radial ply or belted bias) are fitted on the same axle.

7. b) Radial ply tyres are fitted on the front axle with diagonal/cross ply tyres on the rear axle.

8. The grooves of the tread pattern of every tyre fitted to the wheels of vehicles do not have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band comprising the central three quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre.

9. A temporary spare is being used outside it's stated limitations.