Here in the UK, the legal requirement for motorcycle tyres is that there is at least 1mm of tread across the central 3/4 of the tyre.
Most tyre manufacturers build in a tread wear marker into the tread pattern of their motorcycle tyres. Just look in the groove of your tyre and you’ll likely see a small raised section, about the size of a match-head. If you have started to wear this small tread marker, your tyre is about to become illegal.
Keep an eye on the front right hand side of your motorcycle tyre as that’s where it will take a hammering from the camber of the road here in the UK. If you live in Europe it’ll be the left hand side of the tyre. So while your rear could be in good condition, your front might be knackered where it hits the camber.
The fine for riding with illegal tyres is fairly severe: you can get 3-points and £2,500 fine for each illegal tyre.
While we all like to get value for money, it’s worth mentioning that you should try to replace your tyres before they reach the 1mm limit. In most cases, a tyre won’t perform that well when the tread depth drops below 2mm and aside from the outright grip on offer, it won’t feel as enjoyable to ride when the tyre tread is worn and the tyre is squared off.
Source: Check your vehicle is safe to drive – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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