The size of your tyre ‘footprint’ on the road is about the size of a postcard. Therefore having the right tyres, with the correct tread and pressure, is vitally important as they are your vehicles only contact with the road surface. The more tread, the better the grip on the road, whatever your speed or weather conditions.
The legal minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm throughout a continuous band comprising the central three-quarters of breadth of the tread and around its entire outer. Drivers whose tyres fail to comply with the minimum tread depth requirements risk a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.