The tires in vans and light commercial vehicles lead a difficult life, carrying loads and causing multiple falls, often in harsh work environments such as construction sites. Economic pressures on businesses during the recession also meant that many older vehicles were not replaced. As an essential component of the vehicle, it is important to regularly check vans of all ages to ensure their tires are still safe and legal. With margins tighter than ever for businesses and rising fuel and other costs, the impact of a tire problem in terms of vehicle downtime, missed deadlines, and repair costs can be severe. Therefore, regular checks of your vehicle`s tires can save you time and money in the short and long term. The MINIMUM tread depth for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes is 1.6 mm, on the median 3/4 of the tread and over the entire circumference of the tyre. If you are stopped by the police and have tires that do not meet the legal criteria, you may face some or all of the following van operators and business owners who owe a duty of care to their drivers and must ensure that they have a safe working environment. including the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles. Since the Health and Safety Offences Act came into force in January 2009, UK courts have more powers to prosecute companies for offences such as fitting illegal tyres or faulty brakes. The maximum penalty was increased from £5,000 to £20,000. For more information on tires, read our complete guide to buying tires or our complete guide to tire safety and maintenance. It doesn`t take long to take a look at your tire treads, and it`s time well spent. Please contact our friendly tire experts if you would like us to check the condition of your tires and the tread depth.
That`s per tyre, so four illegal tyres could mean a £10,000 fine and 12 penalty points. In 2009, illegal, defective or underinflated tires caused death or serious injury to more than 215 motorists. They were also involved in 1168 other accidents in which people were slightly injured. Download our practical guide to van tire safety (PDF, 320k) Premium tire manufacturers mold TWIs into the design of the tire tread pattern. It is easy to identify; It consists of six or more small frictions on the underside of the main tread grooves, which are usually 1.6 mm to 2 mm above the base of the groove. The legal limit of 1.6 mm is reached when the tire is worn at the tread wear indicators in the main groove – as soon as this happens, the tire must be replaced. Book a free tire check Another easy way to measure tread depth. You can use the 20p test quick and easy. Insert a 20p part into the lowest tread depth of your tires. If you can`t see the outer edge around the edge of the part, your tire is safe and has a tread depth of at least 3mm. If you can see the rim, your tread is less than 3mm and should be checked by a professional. Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are projections inside the tread grooves that are intended to give a visual indication of the degree of tread wear.
If the safety risks do not manifest themselves, will it perhaps be the risk of a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for a worn tyre? In wet weather, tread grooves help remove water from the contact surface between your tires and the road surface, allowing your car to brake, steer and accelerate properly. Without sufficient tread depth, your tires may not function properly in wet conditions, reducing your safety on the road. It is therefore advisable to consider replacing your tires well before they reach the legal minimum. For safety reasons, it is recommended to replace your tires before the legal limit is reached. Many car manufacturers recommend a 3-millimeter exchange. It`s always best to play it safe! Van drivers have a duty of care to ensure that their vehicle is safe and roadworthy. Drivers driving with illegal tyres face personal fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre, whether or not the van is owned by the company. Van drivers and fleet managers can make a simple checklist to ensure their tires are safe and legal. Since vans often carry loads, it is important that the tires are inflated to the correct pressure. When a tire is sufficiently inflated (or overloaded), excess heat builds up in the tire, greatly increasing the likelihood of rapid deflation.
Such a puncture poses a major safety risk, as it can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle by the driver and endanger other road users. The tread depth must be greater than 1.6 mm to be legal. This must be the case for three-quarters of the middle of the tyre. However, if you can see the tape and this part of the part is still visible, your tires could be dangerous and require professional inspection by a mechanic. Some tires have indicators printed on the wall of the tire itself, usually with a line or arrow positioned somewhere under the outer tread. The depth of the tread of the tires is crucial for the safety of the vehicle. The tread depth of vans is especially important because they are heavier than regular cars and often carry loads, which means that the braking distance is extended.