Put the handbrake on HARD and spin the front wheels in first. I'm sure you could wear off a millimetre of rubber.

Got a reply today and the Motability policy is to have the tyres replaced at 2mm,

I'd suggest that, given Motability's function and status, this is the sort of policy that might be changed by well orchestrated publicity.........

Doubt that would make the slightest bit of difference. It's standard policy of leasing companies to change tyres at 2mm.

Although I don't agree with this practice, they will make a big saving by changing tyres at 2mm rather than 3mm. Afraid it's all down to cost.

Got a reply today and the Motability policy is to have the tyres replaced at 2mm,

I'd suggest that, given Motability's function and status, this is the sort of policy that might be changed by well orchestrated publicity.........

I for one would not support such a campaign. Motability is a charity funded willy nilly by the taxpayer through welfare payments.

There are plenty of people without such benefits having to eke out their tyres to 2mm or less, as well as sensibly rotating tyres for even wear.

To suggest wilfully shredding the tyres by spinning the wheels so as to get 'free' new tyres is also something I take a dim view of.

Swapping the tyres round is a good suggestion, while the fronts still have a reasonable amount of tread.

As for the rubbish about the consequences of putting one's own tyres on, how would they know?

bathtub tom and GB, one thing the Jazz won't do (in my experience), is spin the front tyres, at least not in the dry. The combination of CVT transmission and 90lb/ft of torque @ 5000rpm means that even in the wet it would be a struggle to spin the tyres!. With a manual gearbox, especially on a lower spec car with narrower tyres (and no mechanical sympathy), it might be feasable!.

Bromptonaut, yes i agree, and i certainly intend to reply to the email i got from Motability, possibly with some links to tyre tests!.

Smileyman, it is tempting, and i may yet go down that route as its not like we do lots of miles and, as well as the ability to pick and choose what tyre i think best, as i said earlier, getting to Kwik Fit is not that conveniant for me (should have mentioned earlier, but Kwik Fit are the 'official' Motability tyre fitters, not the supplying dealer, though i think under some circumstances, the dealer can change them). But that is what i do with my van, choose which tyre i want, buy a set off Ebay and have them fitted by my trusted indy.

Going back to the mileage, i can't actually remember the last time we had to have new tyres fitted to a Motability car, certainly not the previous three. So i'd have to put it down to the Honda's ability to goad me into thrashing it!.

Jazz - 4mm on front & 7mm on back

Swap the fronts & backs - DIY is a hassle - my local Indie Tyre Centre charges £20 and takes 10 mins (after you get to the front of the queue) - Monday mornings are quiet so I go then.

They or you need to reset tyre pressure monitor.

A few ££s & your car will do maybe 20K before all 4 need changing - you might have another car before then.

By swapping the car will spend this coming winter on 4 x summer tyres with around 5mm fronts and that same 3 to 4mm rears, i'd rather scrub the fronts out and get one new pair fitted late Nov early Dec.

I'm champing at the bit at 4mm on my own rubber, not a hope in hell they'll still be on at 3mm.

Lorry tyres are even lower by the way 1mm, however company policy is 3mm at the very least across the whole tread, and it shows because despite maximum weights when loaded punctures are rare and blow outs unheard of, remoulds not used at all.

What happens if you get a puncture and it is too close to the edge to repair?

Also, don't Kwik-fit always fit their own Arrowspeed (obsolete NEXEN) ditchfinders to lease cars?

Well if the tyre needs replaced it needs replaced. Don't know if the leasing company or the customer would pick up the bill. Depends what the leasing agreement states. Although I had many punctures in 20 years with leased vehicles, I never had one which wasn't repairable.

The lease companies I dealt with (apart from one small outfit) always fitted premium tyre brands (Michelin, Goodyear, Continental etc). Lex and Leaseplan always fitted the premium brands (via Kwik Fit).

Edited by FiestaOwner on 25/08/2019 at 10:29

I can understand the urge to ask for new tyres at 3 instead of 2mm, but from the opposite viewpoint, why not 4 or even 5? Deeper tread will always be marginally 'safer'. I seem to remember the minimum allowed used to be only 1mm which was increased to 1.6 quite a few years ago now. Who decided 1.6 was a safe compromise, and why? Throwing away tyres with plenty of useful life is environmentally reprehensible.

As has been suggested, it is one thing to have better steering and stopping ability, but it is of limited advantage if all the vehicles close behind are not similarly equipped.

Tests show that wet grip falls away rapidily under 3mm - it's a typical "J" curve so it's possible to endlessly debate how much better 3.0mm is than 2.9mm for example.

1.6mm was chosen as the limit that could be agreed globally - many countries support the use of a 3mm limit but global agreement isn't there yet.