Tyre depth confusion
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The article on bald tyres (CM 11-17 September) might mislead readers into believing that all vehicles require tyres with a tread depth of at least 1.6mm.
While I cannot definitively state the requirement in Ireland, in Britain this dimension of 1.6mm only applies to passenger-carrying vehicles with eight seats or fewer (excluding driver), goods vehicles of 3,500kg GVW or less and "light trailers".
The Road Vehicles (Construction &
Use) Regulations 1986 were amended by SI 1990:1981 to implement directive 89/459/EEC which applied to Ml, Ni, 01 and 02 only. The legal minimum tread depth for other tyres (e.g. on HGVs and buses) remains at linm.
Could you please clarify this situation in a future issue?
CE Copelin, Technical executive, Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, London WC2.