I have Ved Ultrac Sessentas on my vrs petrol 10 reg. I have done 14k. The tyres are not illegal but low but avove the pimiples, now it's wet it is slipping lots in first and sometimes second. Are other VRS drivers finding slipping lots now the roads are so wet or is it time to bite the bullet and replace them?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Yeah, time to change by the sounds of it. Especially with the bad wet, cold weather on the way.

The legal limit is 1.6mm but i'm sure most companys say they should be changed at 3mm. If you have noticed you are struggling for grip you should be changing, the weather isn't getting any better. Maybe get winter wheels/tyres and just buy new summers next year, ideal if you need tyres anyway.

Below 3mm is when the SIPPS (worth googling about them) which are apparently key for water dispersion. Personally I am too tight and not having SIPPS isn't going to make the car suddenly lose dramatic tyre performance. I will change once the tyre approaches the legal level.

If it's spinning up enough to activate the traction control and/or ABS regularly, it's time for new tyres.

Changed my fronts at 2-3mm. The understeer was getting a bit too much.

The IAM recommends that tyres are changed when the tread gets below 3mm.

14 October 2010

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) urges drivers to ensure their tyres are in good condition, rather than wait until surface water, frost or snow turns the road under their wheels into a skid pan.

As tyres have only the area of the sole of a shoe in touch with the road at any one time, it’s a safety ‘no-brainer’ to keep them in top condition, and extra care is needed at this time of the year when sudden heavy showers can profoundly affect tyre performance. More roads will also be worn out due to cut-backs on resurfacing, and this combination with worn out tyres is potentially lethal.

Peter Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner, said: “Under-inflation causes excessive tyre-wear, with every ten per cent under the recommended optimum decreasing tyre life by ten percent.

“Vehicles of drivers found to be at fault in high-speed accidents were found to be six times more likely to have worn tyres than those of the other drivers involved*. Keeping your tyres maintained is an important part of car-care, not only for safety but also for fuel-economy; under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.”

Mr Rodger gives some simple tips on checking the condition of your tyres:

• Check the general state of the tyre for cuts and bumps on the tyre wall and uneven wear
• Check that your tyres are correctly inflated (ideally when they’re cold) – you can find the recommended pressure listed in the car’s handbook, or on the manufacturers plate, fitted in many cars
• The legal minimum for tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm, but for optimum safety you are advised to start looking for replacements if the depth is below 3mm. Tyres with less than 1mm of tread depth have one third the braking friction of one at the bare legal min of 1.6mm, and below 3mm the tyres skid resistance begins to decline rapidly

Just because tyres are legal, they still may not be at an optimum for braking safely in all conditions. When there is a 2mm film of water on the road, even 2mm of tread may give no better stopping friction than a bald tyre*. Have a quick look over your car once a week to notice any changes, and get your tyres checked by an expert if you are unsure.

HTH

Alan

Edited 27 October, 201114 yr by alannfrost

I've decided to replace all four tyres, the rears slightly prematurely, because of the decent on-line prices and an extra 10% off when buying four.My calibrated wet roundabout never fails to let me know that 3mm is low enough.

First of all - NOT HAVING A POP .

But , if sliding etc - have you considered your driving style - I never ( exept in emergencies )depend on 100% braking /tyre grip etc . Perhaps it comes from over 2 M(illion) miles on the road , with 45 years since I passed my test ,always loking at how I can improve my driving skills etc( even after 45v years on the road ,I believe that I have something to learn ) . I dictate terms to insurers ,with a massive NCB and accident record . I drive to my Dad's old adage "better to be a live coward than a dead hero",added to training from my uncle , who taught me the priciples of COAST before society realised that COAST skills were a necessary requirement for accident avoidance .

If any one wants data on what COAST stands for - PM,and I'll send a copy from an ex police traffic driver on what it all means .( I'm not a police /ex police driver , but brought up to respect their training and knowledge and respect it )

Some of us are not as experienced as you. I only passed my test 42 years ago. Not having a pop either, but don't preach to me.

Many of us are enthusiasts and drive for fun and like to push a little bit at the cars levels of adhesion and performance.

We may have little incidents but that's what makes life interesting for many of us.

First of all - NOT HAVING A POP .

But , if sliding etc - have you considered your driving style - I never ( exept in emergencies )depend on 100% braking /tyre grip etc . Perhaps it comes from over 2 M(illion) miles on the road , with 45 years since I passed my test ,always loking at how I can improve my driving skills etc( even after 45v years on the road ,I believe that I have something to learn ) . I dictate terms to insurers ,with a massive NCB and accident record . I drive to my Dad's old adage "better to be a live coward than a dead hero",added to training from my uncle , who taught me the priciples of COAST before society realised that COAST skills were a necessary requirement for accident avoidance .

If any one wants data on what COAST stands for - PM,and I'll send a copy from an ex police traffic driver on what it all means .( I'm not a police /ex police driver , but brought up to respect their training and knowledge and respect it )

Without wanting to sound too antagonistic what's your point then? Are you saying if you've only got 2mm of tread on your tyres drive a bit more gently and you won't notice the lack of grip until that emergency when you need that 100% braking?

I think nearly all drivers experience some degree of sliding (a touch of understeer is of course sliding) and deal with it every day.

To notice this gets worse with tyre wear and to replace your tyres before they are totally bald is surely entirely responsible and praiseworthy?

Edited 27 October, 201114 yr by juan27

As others have said, 3mm is as low as I go. You should be able to feel the deterioration in grip levels around the 2-3mm mark.

Brand of tyres has a lot to do with it as well - cheap tyres tend to be cheap for a reason, and in my experience never last as long or have the same grip levels as a branded tyre. This is of course a sweeping statement and there will be poor branded tyres, and good budget tyres.

I always justify the cost as the only thing keeping you on the road is the level of grip your tyres provide under all weather conditions.

If it's spinning up enough to activate the traction control and/or ABS regularly, it's time for new tyres.

Mine are only half worn and I can activate the traction control in 4th gear?

I take mine to the wear bars.

I usually got to 2.5-3mm but thats just me PERSONALLY, those little rubber bands are the only thing keeping you on the road.

I have Ved Ultrac Sessentas on my vrs petrol 10 reg. I have done 14k. The tyres are not illegal but low but avove the pimiples, now it's wet it is slipping lots in first and sometimes second. Are other VRS drivers finding slipping lots now the roads are so wet or is it time to bite the bullet and replace them?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Yes- always change when avove the pimiples :|

On a more serious note- the police change tyres when half worn, ie about 3.5mm

There is a reason for this

I personally know of 2 people who have aquaplaned on the motorway, and crashed into the central reservation.

In both cases the tyres have been around 2mm, ie still legal.

So I'd change BEFORE the tyres get down to the wear markers, ie at around 2.5mm

Go to Halfords, buy a tyre depth guage for about a fiver, and change the tyres if they're at 2.5mm.

It may just save your life......

Below 3mm is when the SIPPS (worth googling about them) which are apparently key for water dispersion. Personally I am too tight and not having SIPPS isn't going to make the car suddenly lose dramatic tyre performance. I will change once the tyre approaches the legal level.

SIPPS is a form of personal pension??

Do you mean sipes?

Police change at 3mm.

The depth at which people change tyres is a very personal decision (and often dictated by finances!).

From my point of view, I will always buy a premium tyre as I believe that they are more likely to maintain traction in more circumstances than cheaper tyres. I may be wrong in this belief, but the research I have seen suggests it is correct.

I am not someone who drives all out all the time, but I do like the occasional spirited drive on B roads where I will push the grip of the tyre (never too much though, not brave enough!). My main reason for buying good tyres is safety. That 1 or 2m difference in stopping distances could be the difference between stopping just in time or piling into another car. As has been said, we need to have total trust in those small black pieces of rubber which connect us to the road.

Mind you, no point in having good tyres if the person behind you has bald Chinese budget tyres and smashes into you anyway!7

I changed the OEM Dunlop SP01 today, at about 2.5mm front and about 2.8mm back.

They have lasted exactly 20.000 miles. Got some spanking Conti SportContact 5

Never risk driving on nasty worn tires, they are the first defense against accidents.

Of course it's a big drain in the pocket, but I'm sure having a few pints less for a few weeks can help you sleep better knowing you got decent rubber to take you down the pub

I second "blackmagic" about the Police changing at 3mm.

Isn't the 3mm minimum tread depth also law in Germany? :wonder:

Yes it is.

A full set of tyres last approx 4000 miles on a traffic Volvo too.

Blimey that's some hard miles!

Very hard driven and quite an experience to be in the passenger seat.