New tyre tread depths changes?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Thu 20 Oct 2016 14:51
New tyre tread depths changes? - brum

I raised this issue a few weeks ago but no one seemed interested. I measured some new Michelin Crossclimate tyres as having only 7mm tread instead of the 8mm I expected all new passenger tyres to have. Michelin confirmed in writing that crossclimates have only between (iirc) 6.7 to 7.0mm of tread new.

Now Ive bought 2 brand new Conti Premium contact 2 tyres for another car for its MOT and was surprised to see them report them at only 7mm. I confirmed that reading, with even less near the edges.

Both sets were XL rated.

Am I losing my mind? Im sure the last set of the same brand/model/size of tyre I bought a few years back started at 8mm.

Continental are lobbying to have the minimum legal tread depth increased to 4mm, Michelin very sensibly are against any change citing no proof from accident stats. If Conti got their way then legally we would have to change our tyres at least twice as frequently as is now the case. Great for business, really bad for the environment and the consumer.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 16:13
New tyre tread depths changes? - bolt

I actually cannot see the logic of Michelin, apart from materials used to make the tyre last longer/possibly?, tyre tread depth will make a difference to the amount of water that the tyre is able to remove from the road to grip.

So why not increase min depth of tread, apart from costing us more the safety side IMO is of benefit, I`m with Continental

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 16:40
New tyre tread depths changes? - brum

This is not intended to be a discussion about the merits of the minimum depth of tread. What I am questioning is why new tyres are appearring with only 7mm of tread instead of what I thought is the standard 8mm.

Call me cynical but this is like reducing the size of a mars bar and hoping people dont notice.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 18:04
New tyre tread depths changes? - Falkirk Bairn

8.00mm tread, disposed at 1.6mm = 6.44mm rubber to be word with use

6.7mm tread (michelin) disposed at 1.6mm = 5.1mm rubber to be worn with use

(5.1/6.4)x100 = 80% ie 20% less rubber = 20% fewer miles per tyre?

A big difference - almost 5 renewals 0f 6.7 mm tyres required instead of 4 renewals of 8mm tyres.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 18:22
New tyre tread depths changes? - brum

Not just michelin but as I pointed out the continental now has only 7mm when new.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 21:42
New tyre tread depths changes? - bolt

This is not intended to be a discussion about the merits of the minimum depth of tread. What I am questioning is why new tyres are appearring with only 7mm of tread instead of what I thought is the standard 8mm.

Call me cynical but this is like reducing the size of a mars bar and hoping people dont notice.

I think you mean getting value for money, I have never checked a new tyre to see how deep the tread is, I only go on condition and correct tyre pressures.

as they are the only thing between you and the road the last thing I worry about is how much usefull tread I`m getting, when they wear to approx 2-3mm I replace no matter their mileage! not that you have a choice

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 22:08
New tyre tread depths changes? - gordonbennet

I suspect the two premium makes mentioned have reduced the new tread depth to stay at the top of the tyre comparison reports/articles, re tread squirm depleting that all important handling score.

I don't buy either Mich or Conti, not better enough for the price IMHO and knocking another mm off the tread isn't going to help persuade me nor anyone else if they can be bothered to check...actually i like Nokian for this clever trick, they have tread depth sipes cut into the tread at various points, as they wear so the current depth appears, all tyres should have this feature IMO.

The Hankooks i put on the Landcruiser last year came with just under 13mm tread, i can measure barely any wear in almost 2 years of commute and other use.

Edited by gordonbennet on 20/10/2016 at 22:14

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2016 22:54
New tyre tread depths changes? - Brit_in_Germany

If you buy your Crossclimates expecting them to count as winter tyres for your continental skiing holiday, in Austria you may be in for a bit of a shock then. There, there is a minimum tread depth of 4 mm to count as a winter tyre, so you only have 3 mm of wear available.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 21 Oct 2016 13:35
New tyre tread depths changes? - Cyd

Very interesting Brum. I've recently bought new Goodyear EfficientGrips in two different sizes, Goodyear F1s and Uniroyal Rainsport 3s. All measured 8mm new, according to my measuring stick.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 21 Oct 2016 20:10
New tyre tread depths changes? - Engineer Andy

I remember my Bridgestones on both my cars were 7mm to start with, as were my Mazda3's current set of Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse tyres, bought 4 years ago. Its not as though these are really low profile tyres, just relatively standard 205/55 R16s.

Maybe they are higher tread depth on higher profile tyres or older designed ones, or as some say, it could be a 'handling thing' for the tyre tests - manufacturers do like to promote their 'rubber band' tyres these days, presumably thinking everyone who buys car tyres is an 18yo chav in a pimped-up supermini, and not middle-aged people with a bad back who wants to get to work without slipping a disc driving over a small defect in the road.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 3 Mar 2018 12:57
New tyre tread depths changes? - GolfR_Caravelle_S-Max

I've put £480 CrossClimate+ 215/60 R16 99V XL All Season / snow & winter tyres on a 2 tonne 2007 2.5t S-Max

They have done almost 10,000 miles and hardly worn down - see below.

Tread measured using a gauge.

  • NSR 7mm
  • OSR 7mm
  • NSF 6mm
  • OSF 6mm

This week, I have driven in deep snow up and down hills with no problems!

I would buy them again.

r.ebay.com/qgNfYb

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 3 Mar 2018 13:48
New tyre tread depths changes? - 30 yr's a Professional Driver

Depends on the make, anything less then 7 and I would consider using another brand of tyre. but they are usually 7 or more if brand new.

Bt I know high profile tyres are showing less grip but they reckon to have more then your standard tyre, reckon you need advice from a tyre technician if you are not one yourself or call the tyre manfacturers themselves and ask them direct.

Edited by 30 yr's a Professional Driver on 03/03/2018 at 13:51

Reply | Report as offensive | Link