Tyre close to the legal tread limit
Last reviewed 22 October 2026. General information, not advice about a particular car.
Fix soon Will get worse and may fail the next MOT. Budget for it in the next few months.
The tread is wearing down towards the 1.6 mm legal minimum, or wearing unevenly on one edge. Uneven wear often means the wheel alignment or suspension needs checking too. Expect to replace the tyre within a few months.
What the wording on the certificate means
You’ll usually see something like “Tyre worn close to legal limit” or “Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge”, often with a position such as “nearside front” (the passenger side) and a reference to the MOT inspection manual in brackets.
The tester measured tread that is still legal but getting close to the minimum of 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, all the way round. “Worn on edge” means one shoulder is wearing faster than the rest.
Why it matters
Grip in the wet drops off well before the legal limit, so stopping distances grow as the tread goes. Uneven wear on one edge usually points to the wheel alignment being out, or a worn suspension part, which will wear the new tyre the same way if it isn’t fixed.
What to do
- Check the depth yourself: most tyres have tread-wear bars in the grooves, or push a 20p coin into the tread. If the outer band of the coin shows, the tread is close to or below the limit.
- Budget to replace the tyre in the next few months. Many drivers replace at about 3 mm.
- If it’s wearing on one edge, ask for a wheel alignment check when the tyre is fitted.
Will it fail the next MOT?
An advisory isn’t a fail, and the car can be driven, as long as it stays roadworthy. Below 1.6 mm is a major defect and a fail. Driving on an illegal tyre can also mean a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each tyre.
If you’re buying a car with this advisory
Tyres near the limit on a car you’re buying are a fair point to negotiate on. Uneven wear on both front tyres suggests alignment or suspension work is due. If the same advisory shows up at test after test, it has probably been left unrepaired.
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