Get Towing on a B+E training course and take towing lessons before a Driving test with safe tyres

Testing your tread depth
Learn how to check the tread and pressure and then check out our general advice on maintaining tip top tyres on a ‘get towing’, B+E, ‘car and trailer training course’

Trailer Tread wear indicators
The easiest way to check your tyre tread is still legal is to look out for tread wear indicators. These are usually small bars, about 5mm wide, across the base of the tyre’s main grooves.
If the tyre tread has become level with the top of the wear indicator, it means your tyres have reached the legal limit of 1.6mm. When they are worn to this level, they need to be replaced.
The 20p test
If your tyres don’t have tread wear indicators, then you can test them with the 20p tyre test. To do this, all you have to do is place a 20p coin into your tyre’s tread grooves. The outer rim of a 20p coin is just under 3mm wide so if it’s obscured then your tyre is comfortably above the legal minimum tread depth.
If you can see part of the rim of the coin then it’s time to check your tyres more carefully using a proper tyre tread depth gauge.
Tyre gauges
The best method for testing your tyres is to use a calibrated tyre gauge. These come in many different forms – from digital gauges to laminated cards with coloured indicators.
To use, just place the gauge into the tyre’s groove and see how close you are to reaching the required minimum depth for your vehicle.
If you check the tread regularly and at different places across the tyre you’ll be able too see how the tyres are wearing and pick up any early signs of uneven wear.

What causes trailer tyre wear?
Tyres will start to wear out over time, but some factors can increase the wear.
Front tyres wear faster because of movement through steering and tyres on driven wheels will wear more quickly.
High speed driving increases temperature and wear.
Driving with an excess load.
Pressure – under inflation (through increased flexing and temperature) and over inflation (through reduced contact area) can both increase wear.

Our trailer Training courses will show you all these practical tips before your trailer driving test