N/A - New tyre tread depth

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Fri 2 Aug 2019 22:12
N/A - New tyre tread depth - sammy1

Do you think tyre manufacturers and distributors should include tread depth in their specifications? I recently had fitted what I thought was a set of mid-range tyres (Firestone Roadhawk) at a Halfords Autocentre for my old Audi A3 and subsequently found that their tread depth is only 6mm, i.e. 4.4mm of useable tread. That’s more than 30% less usable tread compared with what I thought was the norm of 8mm.

The above is in the HJ agony column today. HJ reply is it is not the tread depth but how many miles the tyre will do.

I always thought that tyres were mainly about grip and water dispersal as well as miles.

So how for instance does a 6mm tyre disperse as much rain as an 8mm one?

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Fri 2 Aug 2019 22:17
N/A - New tyre tread depth - dan86

The tread pattern is a part of the tyre design that is just as important as tread depth it may only have 6mm of depth but have a tread pattern may be excellent at dispersing water and it may have a compound that is hard wearing.

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Fri 2 Aug 2019 22:26
N/A - New tyre tread depth - gordonbennet

Standard car tyres were always 8mm, some shaved that down to 7mm, but 6mm is just taking the p, lots of us remove at around 3mm so 3mm of usable tread? they can keep them.

Agreed the tread depth should be stated for new car tyre sales, and on one or two sites for some (not all) tyre brands they new depth is stated.

Nokian have a novel system at various points around the tread the depth remaining in mm counts down.

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Sat 3 Aug 2019 13:31
N/A - New tyre tread depth - Chris M

I had Firestone Multihawk 2 fitted to the front of the wife's Panda a fortnight ago (Halfords Autocentre). Just checked and they are 6mm as well. Maybe a Firestone trait. Took advantage of the £10 off for two offer and a £10 voucher to spend in Halfords. Two mid range tyres for a little over £70 :)

Last year I had Tyres on the Drive fit a pair on the rear for £62. They were cheaper than anywhere else which was a first. Fitter said (unprompted) Firestone wear really well, so maybe 6mm is enough rubber to make it comparably to other brands with 8mm. Either way ours will perish before they wear out.

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Sat 3 Aug 2019 17:54
N/A - New tyre tread depth - madf

8mm for Michelin All seasons on Jazz...

Still over 7,mm after 10k miles

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Sat 3 Aug 2019 19:08
N/A - New tyre tread depth - Avant

Yer pays for what yer gets.

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Sat 3 Aug 2019 20:51
N/A - New tyre tread depth - retgwte

I remember a friend putting van tyres on his wife's car, for the significantly better wear.

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Sat 3 Aug 2019 22:42
N/A - New tyre tread depth - nick62

I once remember going great lengths trying to get an identical set of original fit Michelin's for a Pug 306 I had brought new in 1996. It must have taken me 10 or more 'phone calls before I found somewhere that had them in stock (pre-tinterweb).

The mileage was 52,000 when I brought the full set (I had rotated the originals at ~25,000) and this new set were still in great nick when I sold the car with almost 90,000 miles on it.

Like has been said above, you get what you pay for - all of the tyre dealers who didn't stock them said they were too dear!

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