Question

Difficulty: MediumTyre Safety and Requirements

Under UK road traffic law, a car tyre with a sidewall cut deep enough to reach or expose the internal cords is illegal to use on public roads, even if its tread depth exceeds 1.6 mm1.6\text{ mm}.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True
Under UK road traffic regulations, a vehicle tyre must be free from any defect that could cause danger. Specifically, any cut deep enough to reach or expose the internal cords or ply makes the tyre illegal, regardless of the remaining tread depth.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the legal conditions that govern tyre roadworthiness in the UK.
UK law mandates that tyres must maintain at least 1.6 mm1.6\text{ mm} of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the breadth and around the entire circumference, AND be free from serious structural defects.
Tyre safety requires both sufficient surface tread for water displacement and sound structural integrity to prevent blowouts.
2
Evaluate the legal effect of a deep sidewall cut exposing internal cords.
A cut that reaches or exposes the ply or cord structure immediately renders the tyre illegal and defective under road traffic regulations.
Exposed cords severely weaken the tyre carcass and create a high risk of sudden tyre failure at speed.
3
Assess whether complying with minimum tread depth overrides structural sidewall defects.
Tread depth compliance does not override structural defects; the tyre remains illegal.
Both tread depth and structural integrity criteria must be satisfied simultaneously for a tyre to be road-legal.

Key Concept

UK statutory tyre roadworthiness and structural defect rules
Estimated Time:45s
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