Used-car checks
How Much Tyre Tread Should a Used Car Have?
Tread depth matters, but it’s only part of the tyre story. Check each tyre across its full width, then judge depth, age, damage and wear in the context of the car you’re buying.
The legal minimum is a minimum standard, not an ideal buying target. Four millimetres or more is generally good, around three millimetres is usually acceptable, and around two millimetres is getting low even if the tyre may still be legal. Check the whole tyre and allow for replacement where it’s realistically due soon.
What tread depth is actually acceptable?
A tyre can be legal and still be close enough to replacement that it should affect your buying decision. Four millimetres or more is generally a good place to be. Around three millimetres is often acceptable if the tyre is otherwise sound and the price makes sense. Around two millimetres is getting low: it may not mean walk away, but you should be realistic about replacing it soon.
Don’t treat these figures as a substitute for judgement. A low-value car with a decent, safe set of tyres may be a better buy than an expensive car with four worn or damaged tyres that need immediate money spending on them.
Check the whole tyre, not one easy-to-see patch
Look across the tread width, including the inner shoulder where wear can be missed when the wheels are straight. Check all four tyres individually. A tyre can look fine at its outer edge while being worn much more heavily on the inside.
Uneven wear can simply reflect use or previous alignment, but persistent inner-edge wear, cupping or one tyre wearing differently from the others is a reason to look more closely at alignment, suspension and the car’s general condition.
Damage, cracking and age matter too
Look for cracking or perishing, sidewall cuts, bulges and any exposed cords or material. A bulge, serious cut or exposed structure isn’t something to negotiate around; it needs replacing.
The four-digit date code can be useful when a tyre looks old. It tells you when the tyre was made, not when it was fitted. An older tyre can still have plenty of tread, but rubber condition matters as much as depth.
Brands, matching and MOT advisories
Don’t become tyre-snobbish. A budget brand isn’t automatically unsafe, and a premium badge doesn’t rescue a tyre that’s worn, damaged or old. Look at the actual condition, whether tyres are sensibly matched across an axle and whether the car feels cared for overall.
An MOT advisory is a historical note, not a permanent fault. Check the tyre as it sits today. If an advisory mentioned inner-edge wear or low tread, see whether it was dealt with and whether the present condition supports the seller’s explanation.
How tyres should affect the deal
Tyres are a real cost item, so include them in the price you’re prepared to pay. You don’t need to reject a car solely because tyres are approaching replacement, but you should budget honestly or use the condition as part of a sensible conversation about the price.
The key question is whether the tyre condition fits the car’s age, value and asking price. Four tyres near the end of their useful life mean something very different on a cheap older hatchback than on an expensive, freshly prepared dealer car.
Buyer checklist
- Check all four tyres, including inner shoulders where you can see them.
- Measure the main grooves with a proper gauge rather than guessing by eye.
- Look for uneven wear, cracking, cuts, bulges and exposed material.
- Check tyre date codes where age or condition raises a question.
- Read tyre MOT advisories alongside the current condition.
- Allow for replacement costs if tyres are near the point you would change them.