Tyres in Pontefract, West Yorkshire

1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre, right around its circumference. Below that, it is an MOT failure and can mean three penalty points and a fine for each illegal tyre. Wet grip falls off well before 1.6mm though, so it is worth planning a replacement from around 3mm rather than running the tread to the limit.

Sometimes. A repair is permitted when the damage is within the central section of the tread and under a set size, and when the tyre hasn't been driven flat. Damage to the sidewall or shoulder can't be repaired safely, and neither can a tyre that has already run flat. We'll inspect it and tell you honestly which category yours falls into.

It isn't a legal requirement, but it is usually the sensible thing to do on the same axle. Two tyres with noticeably different tread depths on the front or rear can make the car behave unevenly under braking or in the wet. If your other tyre still has plenty of tread, we'll say so.

It depends on your mileage and your driving. Premium tyres generally stop shorter in the wet and last longer, so over the life of the tyre the cost per mile can work out closer than the sticker price suggests. On a low-mileage car a good mid-range tyre is often the sensible choice. We'll give you the honest comparison rather than pushing you up the range.

Rubber ages whether you use it or not. Even with plenty of tread left, a tyre more than about five years old is worth inspecting for cracking and hardening, and most manufacturers suggest replacement by ten years regardless of mileage. The four-digit date code on the sidewall tells you the week and year it was made, and we're happy to check yours.