What does Regulation 212 stipulate about legally required tread depth of tyres?

Regulation 212. Tyres

No person shall operate on a public road -

(a) a motor vehicle, other than a tractor or trailer, which is equipped with a metal tyre;
(b) a tractor or trailer, other than an animal-drawn vehicle, which is equipped with a metal tyre of less than 130 millimetres in width;
Prepared by: In partnership with:Page 234 of 378
(c) an animal-drawn vehicle which is equipped with a metal tyre less than 40 millimetres in width;
(d) a vehicle which is equipped with a metal tyre unless the whole width of the tread of the tyre is at all times in direct contact with the surface of the road;
(e) a vehicle which is equipped with a tyre which is in such a state of disrepair or in such a  condition that it may cause or is likely to cause damage to the road surface or may be or is likely
to be a danger;
(f) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a pneumatic tyre of which the rubber covering is so worn  or damaged that the fabric or cord used in the construction of such tyre is exposed;
(g) a motor vehicle of which a tyre is so constructed and fitted that the metal part of the wheel to which such tyre is fitted may come into contact with the road surface;
(h) a motor cycle which is equipped with a retreaded tyre;
(i) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a regrooved tyre having a bead diameter of 430  millimetres or less;
(j) a motor vehicle -
(i) which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre unless such tyre displays throughout, across its breadth and around its entire circumference, a pattern which is clearly visible, and has a tread of at least one millimetre in depth; or
(ii) which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre which contains a tyre tread depth indicator, if the  tread is level with the tyre tread depth indicator:

Provided that this paragraph shall not apply in respect of a motor cycle with an engine which  has a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres, or a trailer drawn by a tractor at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h;
(Regulation 212(j) amended by regulation 42(a) of General Notice 2116 of 2001)
(Regulation 212(j) amended by regulation 29(e) of Government Notice R404 of 2007)
(k) a motor cycle with an engine having a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres, which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre which does not at any position on the tread thereof have a visible tread pattern over at least 80 percent of the full width of the tread;
(l) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a pneumatic tyre which has a break in its fabric or which has a cut, measured in any direction on the outside of the tyre and of such depth that it reaches
Prepared by: In partnership with:Page 235 of 378 the cords used in the construction of such tyre, in excess of 25 millimetres or 10 percent of the maximum width of the tyre, whichever is the greater;
(Regulation 212(l) amended by regulation 7(a) of Government Notice R871 of 2005, as revoked and replaced by regulation 7(a) of Government Notice R891 of 2006)
(m) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a pneumatic tyre which has a lump or bulge caused by the separation of or a partial break in its structure.
(n) A minibus, midibus, or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA, unless such minibus, midibus or bus is fitted with commercial steel
radial tyres;
(Regulation 212(n) added by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R871 of 2005, as revoked and replaced by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R891 of 2006)
(o) A minibus, midibus or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA unless such minibus, midibus or bus is fitted with a vehicle directional stability control devise [sic].
(Regulation 212(o) added by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R871 of 2005, as revoked and replaced by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R891 of 2006 with effect from a date published by the Minister by
Notice in the Gazette)
(Regulation 212(o) substituted by regulation 15 of Government Notice R589 of 2009 with effect from a date to be determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette)

Also view:

Tyre Safety and Road Safety

What does Regulation 212 stipulate about legally required tread depth of tyres?

What does Regulation 212 stipulate about legally required tread depth of tyres?

Regulation 212. Tyres

No person shall operate on a public road -

(a) a motor vehicle, other than a tractor or trailer, which is equipped with a metal tyre;
(b) a tractor or trailer, other than an animal-drawn vehicle, which is equipped with a metal tyre of less than 130 millimetres in width;
Prepared by: In partnership with:Page 234 of 378
(c) an animal-drawn vehicle which is equipped with a metal tyre less than 40 millimetres in width;
(d) a vehicle which is equipped with a metal tyre unless the whole width of the tread of the tyre is at all times in direct contact with the surface of the road;
(e) a vehicle which is equipped with a tyre which is in such a state of disrepair or in such a  condition that it may cause or is likely to cause damage to the road surface or may be or is likely
to be a danger;
(f) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a pneumatic tyre of which the rubber covering is so worn  or damaged that the fabric or cord used in the construction of such tyre is exposed;
(g) a motor vehicle of which a tyre is so constructed and fitted that the metal part of the wheel to which such tyre is fitted may come into contact with the road surface;
(h) a motor cycle which is equipped with a retreaded tyre;
(i) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a regrooved tyre having a bead diameter of 430  millimetres or less;
(j) a motor vehicle -
(i) which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre unless such tyre displays throughout, across its breadth and around its entire circumference, a pattern which is clearly visible, and has a tread of at least one millimetre in depth; or
(ii) which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre which contains a tyre tread depth indicator, if the  tread is level with the tyre tread depth indicator:

Provided that this paragraph shall not apply in respect of a motor cycle with an engine which  has a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres, or a trailer drawn by a tractor at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h;
(Regulation 212(j) amended by regulation 42(a) of General Notice 2116 of 2001)
(Regulation 212(j) amended by regulation 29(e) of Government Notice R404 of 2007)
(k) a motor cycle with an engine having a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres, which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre which does not at any position on the tread thereof have a visible tread pattern over at least 80 percent of the full width of the tread;
(l) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a pneumatic tyre which has a break in its fabric or which has a cut, measured in any direction on the outside of the tyre and of such depth that it reaches
Prepared by: In partnership with:Page 235 of 378 the cords used in the construction of such tyre, in excess of 25 millimetres or 10 percent of the maximum width of the tyre, whichever is the greater;
(Regulation 212(l) amended by regulation 7(a) of Government Notice R871 of 2005, as revoked and replaced by regulation 7(a) of Government Notice R891 of 2006)
(m) a motor vehicle which is equipped with a pneumatic tyre which has a lump or bulge caused by the separation of or a partial break in its structure.
(n) A minibus, midibus, or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA, unless such minibus, midibus or bus is fitted with commercial steel
radial tyres;
(Regulation 212(n) added by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R871 of 2005, as revoked and replaced by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R891 of 2006)
(o) A minibus, midibus or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA unless such minibus, midibus or bus is fitted with a vehicle directional stability control devise [sic].
(Regulation 212(o) added by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R871 of 2005, as revoked and replaced by regulation 7(b) of Government Notice R891 of 2006 with effect from a date published by the Minister by
Notice in the Gazette)
(Regulation 212(o) substituted by regulation 15 of Government Notice R589 of 2009 with effect from a date to be determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette)

Also view:

Tyre Safety and Road Safety

What does Regulation 212 stipulate about legally required tread depth of tyres?

South African Made Tyres Tread Deep

The continued increase of cheap tyres being ‘dumped’ from Far East Countries like China into South Africa through customs under-declarations, lack of service delivery, high electricity costs, increasing transport costs and the huge waste tyre fees have recently shed light on the challenges facing the 5 South African tyre manufactures*.

There are also additional issues such as one-sided labour laws and custom, the pending carbon tax, the high cost of tooling imports due to the weak Rand and reduced productivity that influence local manufacturing. But what is the true state of the industry?

Despite many challenges, the local tyre manufactures have been operating successfully, some for over 85 years, contributing close to R20 billion to the South African economy annually and providing decent direct jobs to at least 6,500 people nationally.

It is further a key contributor to the provincial economies including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and the North West Province through its production of tyres for highway use, agriculture, mining and industries. Therefore the sustainability of this manufacturing industry is vital for the real growth of the South African economy, as approximately 32,000 indirect jobs benefit from the operations.

Manufacturing in SA is what really drives the economy.

In response to current challenges, the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) is advocating for the maintenance of industry standards geared towards protecting human health and safety, conserving the business environment and fair trade based on reliable measurements to counteract the unbalanced market.

“The South African tyre market is fiercely competitive with many suppliers and a shrinking pool of customers due to the economy being basically in recession,” says Dr Etienne Human, Chief Executive Officer of SATMC. “South Africa is seen as a springboard to sub-Saharan Africa and is therefore a popular market for exporters, especially from the Far East, wanting to expand.”

As the expert voice of the South African tyre industry, the SATMC is changing gears, working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry’s (dti), the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) to stimulate a fair trade base. Work is also progressing with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to rectify the extended producer responsibility issues and costs regarding waste tyres in SA.

“In order to be efficient an average of only 14% of all tyre volumes on offer by the 5 local tyre manufacturers in South Africa are imported from their international companies. This allows for longer production runs of the large volume items in the local tyre factories leading to improved quality and lower costs,” says Human.

“Over 85 years South Africa has developed an established tyre manufacturing base that has shown its resilience and potential to compete in the global market,” says Human. “Similar to what is happening in the USA, South Africa is also dealing with Chinese tyre dumping and wanting to restore even playing fields. The SATMC does not want to create barriers to entry for reputable competing manufacturers, but are rather aiming to promote a healthy competitive market based on sound standards and practices.”

By creating an equal playing field, the SATMC aims to create a bigger demand for tyres designed and manufactured for local conditions, which will stimulate South Africa’;s economic growth, will prevent job losses and will help to create more service provider opportunities to the factories.

“Locally manufactured tyres are specifically designed for the South African road and climate conditions, which make them safer and more durable. Very few items are as tough as a tyre dealing with what it has to endure on our roads,” says Human.

A big concern is also the huge number of passenger casings imported into South Africa every month. Although these tyres are by law required to be retreaded only, the majority of these tyre casing never see a retreading factory and are believed to be sold as second-hand tyres, many without proper inspections, to the unsuspecting public. ITAC Import-Export Control, a division of the dti, is to control the import permits issued only to operating retreaders.

“Unroadworthy second-hand tyres are the cause of unnecessary deaths on the road,” says Human. “It is estimated that the majority of all tyre blow outs can be attributed to defective second hand tyres fitted or tyres improperly repaired.

“It is an art to make a tyre that complies with such strict international specifications. Tyre builders are experts in what they do and have been trained over many years. The cost today to establish a tyre factory will exceed R1 billion with annual upgrades of around R100 million per annum to keep up with developments. Trends in the Western world indicate that once a tyre factory closes it will never open up again”.

The SATMC made a recent calculation and found that in generic terms, the cost increases mentioned in the introductory paragraph, far exceed all the incentives government endeavours to assist the industries. A good example is the waste tyre fees to fund an elaborate system that was instituted without involving the entire tyre industry. In the end it is reducing the viability of factories and straining the consumer who ultimately foots the bill without solving the real issues of job sustainability and creation.

For more information about the SATMC, see www.satmc.co.za or email to info@satmc.co.za.

*The South African tyre manufacturers are Apollo (formally Dunlop), Bridgestone, Continental, Sumitomo and Goodyear.

Also view:

Tyre Safety and Road Safety

South African Made Tyres Tread Deep

Tread meticulously – how to take care of your tyres

 Dead tyres by vagawi is licensed under BY CC 2.0 

You probably don’t regularly check your car tyres.

Well, actually, you might do it with religious fervour for all I know, but my guess would be that you probably don’t.

I mean, even with the best will in the world, it’s going to slip ever further down the to-do list for most of us…

But figures just released by the Department for Transport might just make you change your mind about this particular aspect of vehicle maintenance.

Final third

Did you know, for example, that out of a total of 2,855 casualties caused by defective vehicles in 2013, dangerous tyres were cited as a contributory factor in 968 cases, or one third?

Worse, out of 43 deaths on the road from vehicle defects, 18 were caused by illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres – that’s more than 40%.

Nearly half of the tyre-related casualties were on A-roads and the highest number was recorded in the south east of England, accounting for 23%.

Check mates

The figures are timely because October is Tyre Safety Month, when thousands of garages and tyre retailers across the UK will be offering free tyre safety checks.

So it’s as good a time as any to make sure your tyres are up to scratch. Which means…

• your tyres should be the correct size and type for your vehicle – check your manual


• they should also be in good shape, so use your common sense: no tears, gouges, scars, lumps or other characteristics that make you go “What the…?”


• they should also be pumped up to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure – and checked every couple of weeks. You’ll find the numbers in your manual, and there’ll probably be a chart at the airpump on the forecourt


• always check the pressure when the tyres are cold and make sure you modify the pressure if you are carrying an unusually heavy load


• depending on your car, you might also need to adjust your pressure according to the time of year (as air pressure changes according to the ambient temperature)


• the details of the correct pressure are usually found in the handbook or inside the petrol flap. Alternatively, you can search on websites such as www.kwik-fit.com.

Pressure points

There are several reasons why the correct tyre pressure is important.

First, it can lengthen the life of your tyres, no bad thing when you consider the cost.

Next up the right tyre pressure can also improve road handling and fuel economy.

Get a grip

You then need to get to grips with the tyre tread.

The law requires car drivers to have at least 1.6mm of tread depth on their tyres, although you should ideally replace the tyres before the tread gets too worn down.

A car with a 1.6 mm tread will stop 8 metres after a car with a tread of 3mm travelling at 50 mph in wet weather – and that 8 metres could save a life.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, the organisation behind the October check-up campaign, says: “Driving on safe and legal tyres is important all year round, but especially so as we approach the winter months.

“Without adequate tread depth your tyres will not be able to cope properly on wet roads, and if we have a repeat of last year’s record levels of rainfall, we could well see even more needless tyre-related injuries which could have been easily avoided.”

Run for cover

If you drive with defective tyres, you could invalidate your insurance. It would not then pay out in the event of a claim.

Plus, you risk a fine and penalty points if you don’t look after your tyres. Anyone with defective or illegal tyres can be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

In the worst case scenario, you could end up a court with a possible fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points.

Depth charges

The 20p test is a quick and easy way to check your tyre tread. Simply insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of the tyre. If the outer rim of the 20p coin is obscured, then the tread is above the legal minimum depth.

If you can see the outer edge of the coin, the tyre is possibly unsafe or illegal and should be inspected by a tyre professional immediately.

Spare a thought…

When it comes to your spare tyre, you don’t actually have to carry a one in your car – and if you do, it doesn’t have to meet the legal standards when it is stowed away.

However, if you want the fall-back of using your spare tyre in an emergency, perhaps following a puncture, it’s a good idea to check it regularly so that you know it will be roadworthy if and when you need it.

Some vehicles are fitted with mini spares, which are designed to take up less room in the boot. Beware though, as they are not intended to be driven for long periods or at high speeds.

Seasonal produce

Winter tyres are designed specifically for use in low temperatures and can improve road safety. However, there is no legal requirement to fit winter tyres in the UK.

Snow chains are another option if you live in rural areas. Watch this space for more info on driving in winter over the coming weeks.

If you want a free tyre check during Tyre Safety Month, you can find your nearest participating centre by visiting www.tyresafe.org

Tread meticulously – how to take care of your tyres

Tread cautiously – how to take care of your tyres

 Dead tyres by vagawi is licensed under BY CC 2.0 

You probably don’t regularly check your car tyres.

Well, actually, you might do it with religious fervour for all I know, but my guess would be that you probably don’t.

I mean, even with the best will in the world, it’s going to slip ever further down the to-do list for most of us…

But figures just released by the Department for Transport might just make you change your mind about this particular aspect of vehicle maintenance.

Final third

Did you know, for example, that out of a total of 2,855 casualties caused by defective vehicles in 2013, dangerous tyres were cited as a contributory factor in 968 cases, or one third?

Worse, out of 43 deaths on the road from vehicle defects, 18 were caused by illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres – that’s more than 40%.

Nearly half of the tyre-related casualties were on A-roads and the highest number was recorded in the south east of England, accounting for 23%.

Check mates

The figures are timely because October is Tyre Safety Month, when thousands of garages and tyre retailers across the UK will be offering free tyre safety checks.

So it’s as good a time as any to make sure your tyres are up to scratch. Which means…

• your tyres should be the correct size and type for your vehicle – check your manual


• they should also be in good shape, so use your common sense: no tears, gouges, scars, lumps or other characteristics that make you go “What the…?”


• they should also be pumped up to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure – and checked every couple of weeks. You’ll find the numbers in your manual, and there’ll probably be a chart at the airpump on the forecourt


• always check the pressure when the tyres are cold and make sure you modify the pressure if you are carrying an unusually heavy load


• depending on your car, you might also need to adjust your pressure according to the time of year (as air pressure changes according to the ambient temperature)


• the details of the correct pressure are usually found in the handbook or inside the petrol flap. Alternatively, you can search on websites such as www.kwik-fit.com.

Pressure points

There are several reasons why the correct tyre pressure is important.

First, it can lengthen the life of your tyres, no bad thing when you consider the cost.

Next up the right tyre pressure can also improve road handling and fuel economy.

Get a grip

You then need to get to grips with the tyre tread.

The law requires car drivers to have at least 1.6mm of tread depth on their tyres, although you should ideally replace the tyres before the tread gets too worn down.

A car with a 1.6 mm tread will stop 8 metres after a car with a tread of 3mm travelling at 50 mph in wet weather – and that 8 metres could save a life.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, the organisation behind the October check-up campaign, says: “Driving on safe and legal tyres is important all year round, but especially so as we approach the winter months.

“Without adequate tread depth your tyres will not be able to cope properly on wet roads, and if we have a repeat of last year’s record levels of rainfall, we could well see even more needless tyre-related injuries which could have been easily avoided.”

Run for cover

If you drive with defective tyres, you could invalidate your insurance. It would not then pay out in the event of a claim.

Plus, you risk a fine and penalty points if you don’t look after your tyres. Anyone with defective or illegal tyres can be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

In the worst case scenario, you could end up a court with a possible fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points.

Depth charges

The 20p test is a quick and easy way to check your tyre tread. Simply insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of the tyre. If the outer rim of the 20p coin is obscured, then the tread is above the legal minimum depth.

If you can see the outer edge of the coin, the tyre is possibly unsafe or illegal and should be inspected by a tyre professional immediately.

Spare a thought…

When it comes to your spare tyre, you don’t actually have to carry a one in your car – and if you do, it doesn’t have to meet the legal standards when it is stowed away.

However, if you want the fall-back of using your spare tyre in an emergency, perhaps following a puncture, it’s a good idea to check it regularly so that you know it will be roadworthy if and when you need it.

Some vehicles are fitted with mini spares, which are designed to take up less room in the boot. Beware though, as they are not intended to be driven for long periods or at high speeds.

Seasonal produce

Winter tyres are designed specifically for use in low temperatures and can improve road safety. However, there is no legal requirement to fit winter tyres in the UK.

Snow chains are another option if you live in rural areas. Watch this space for more info on driving in winter over the coming weeks.

If you want a free tyre check during Tyre Safety Month, you can find your nearest participating centre by visiting www.tyresafe.org

Tread cautiously – how to take care of your tyres