Laws for the condition of tyres

[stevepeanut]

Is anyone knowledgable on the laws regarding the condition of tyres?

I bought a car at the weekend and the tyres have lots of very small cracks in the sidewalls. I know the usual rules about tread depth but I've never looked into the laws with regards to the actual general condition of the tyre.

Google brings up this

be compatible with the types of tyres fitted to the other wheels
not have any lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of the structure.
not have a cut or tear in excess of 25mm or 10% of the sectional width of the tyre, whichever is the greater, and which is deep enough to reach the ply or cord.
not have any part of the ply or cord exposed

Does cracked tyre walls fall under any of that?

[THE_Liam]

I wouldn't say they were strictly illegal, but I wouldn't drive on them, sounds like old tyres where the rubber has dried out.

[Battles]

Can you see a date code on them decoded, see how old they are?

As above, they sound like really old tyres. I've found spare tyres in the boots of cars I've bought that had lots of tread, and stickers and dimples still on, but had cracks from age.

[stevepeanut]

I'm sure there's a receipt in the history file that says it had 4 tyres in 2008, but there's no guarantee it's those tyres, could be though. I'll get some pics up when it's daylight.

[welshpug]

7 years is damn good going tbh, most are done after 5-6, I would be changing them for my own safety regardless of what the law states.

[steveo3002]

i asked my mot about sidewall cracks and he said it would need the cords exposed to be a fail

sounds like common sense would say yours need changing as soon as you can afford to , better than one blowing on the motorway and killing yourself

[stevepeanut]

Yep I think yous are right there, I'll get them changed. It's not worth the risk.

[DWDarkWheels]

IIRC shelf-life of tyres is 6 years. U-V light takes its toll even if they've never been used. [dragged from deep in my memory banks so I stand to be corrected.]

Edit : I doubt there's a law based on the above.

[deaddave72]

one of my tyres on the cadillac has a crazed sidewall, passed an MOT as it wasnt to the cords, just advised on so i am aware of it and keep an eye on it. That tyre is an original firestone that had been sat in the california desert for a couple of years before coming over here on the car, its been over here for 8 years.

[dodgerover]

As long as the steel cords aren't showing they are OK for the mot.

[Deleted]

Its an instant fail on EU control (MOT) or random tech control over here at least, i've had a cracked tyre go boom on me once, so really wouldnt recommend driving on them, for your own safety

[joe90]

Surely a perished tyre should come under "partial failure of structure"

[Deleted]

If you are concerned enough to ask then get them changed, its the only thing keeping you car on the tarmac.

[deaddave72]

i suppose it depends on the severity of how perished it is i guess.

[ferny]

"Excessive" cracking would fail. An experienced MOT tester would be the only place I'd trust to make that judgment though, not a tyre centre who also do MOT's.

Keep in mind that those cracks you can see will also have lots of micro cracks beneath them which you can't see. I've seen cracks on tyres which are only a couple of years old, yet mine from 2008 have none. They aren't always the best way to judge how hard the rubber has gone though!

Jan 15, 2015 22:03:05 GMT joe90 said:

Surely a perished tyre should come under "partial failure of structure"

It's not a structural part of the car, just like bushes. I see your point though.

[Deleted]

Cracked tires is a good excuse for excessive burnouts though "Oh well i have to use them for SOMETHING" and all that

[nomad]

^ as said above by several folk...
Any cords are showing = illegal
Dry/cracked/prehistoric = legal (but use at your own risk!)
Chunks missing = (but not sensible to use even if legal)

I would be happy to run old tyres to get home or on a low powered daily but beware they are likely fossilised hard so will have very little grip or braking in the wet. Ideal for offroad burnouts/drifting in winter
Personally - would not use on anything big, heavy or powerful even tho' they are legal.

Nuns and kittens should be safe if you are sensible, if you can't do that get them changed asap!

[THE_Liam]

To be honest, for the sake of some part worns (St Annes tyres near Morrisons on Kirkstall Road are good seeing as your local) I can't see why anyone would risk it. If the tyres are old and hard, fair enough you can drive careful, but what if someone pulls out in front of you?

[Curtis]

If memory serves correctly, anything date stamped over 8 years old is illegal, though as above, a 6 year old tyre is generally done. You'll find that over time the rubber hardens, and as we know, a harder tyre has less grip, so you'll find them very slidey if they are that old As said, burnouts are clearly the only solution

Edit: doing some reading, it would appear I'm chatting out of my a*se, there is no legal age limit for tyres. Ignore that statement

[adam73bgt]

Jan 16, 2015 8:26:51 GMT Curtis said:

If memory serves correctly, anything date stamped over 8 years old is illegal

Nah mate, not illegal just advised against.


I had some 2005ish tyres that were cracking on my Jag, I then replaced the wheels which came with non cracked but 1995ish tyres on.. the 1995 year tyres were 'interesting' especially in the wet