Policy paper

Tyre age restrictions for good vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses

Published 15 January 2021

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

© Crown copyright 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-tyres-aged-more-than-10-years-on-goods-vehicles-buses-and-coaches/tyre-age-restrictions-for-good-vehicles-buses-coaches-and-minibuses

It is illegal for the front (steering) axle or axles of:

  • goods vehicles with a gross mass more than 3.5 tonnes
  • buses
  • coaches
  • minibuses and also to the rear axle, or axles, unless equipped with twin wheels

to use tyres aged more than 10-years.

To prove the age of a tyre it is further required that manufacture date, printed on the tyre, remain legible on all tyres.

Re-treaded tyres are subject to the same requirement as first-life tyres. The date of re-treading, instead of date of first manufacture, will be used to determine the tyre age.

The only exemptions are vehicles:

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, introduced new requirements that ban the use of tyres aged more than 10-years on certain vehicles.

Identifying the date of tyre manufacture

Tyres sold in GB are required to have their date of manufacture marked on the sidewall. This date is shown as a 4-digit number; the first 2 digits indicate the week number in which the tyre was manufactured and the last two digits the year. In the example given the tyre was manufactured in week 21 of 2020.

An image of a tyre sidewall showing a 4 digit date code to indicate date of manufacture. The first 2 digits indicate the week number in which the tyre was manufactured and the last 2 digits the year.

The date of tyre manufacture marking must always be legible. Using a tyre where the marking is damaged or defaced would be an offence.

Using older tyres on other axles

It is lawful, but not recommended, to use tyres aged more than 10-years on other axles.

Our research has found structural deterioration can occur in older tyres which cannot be identified through visual inspection. Owners are recommended to:

  • record
  • monitor

the age of the tyres on their vehicle as per the tyre management section in the ‘Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness’.

It is the vehicle owner’s or operator’s responsibility to make sure their tyres do not present a road safety risk.

Roadworthiness inspections

Presence of a tyre aged more than ten-years in a position as defined, is classed as a dangerous defect. This will lead to refusal of a roadworthiness certificate at annual inspection.

If this defect is identified elsewhere, for example at roadside, it will attract a prohibition.

Penalties

It will be an offence to:

  • use
  • cause
  • permit to be used

a tyre on a vehicle as defined.

Penalties for misuse are:

  • fixed penalty notices
  • fines
  • driving licence penalty points
  • disqualification from driving

The maximum fine is Level 5, a potentially unlimited amount in England and Wales, but capped at £5,000 in Scotland.

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