mechanics.trade
Tyres and puncture repair
Tyres are the only part of a car touching the road, so their condition decides how well it grips, steers and stops.
What tyres means
The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm across the middle three quarters of the tyre. Most garages will fit tyres you have chosen or recommend a set for how you drive.
What the job covers
- Supply and fit across budget to premium brands
- Puncture repair to British Standard where repairable
- Wheel balancing and valve replacement
- Run-flat and tyre-pressure sensors
- Winter and all-season tyres
When you might need it
- The tread is getting low. A 20p coin is a fair rough check: push it into a groove and if the outer band is hidden, you have plenty of tread left.
- One edge is wearing faster than the other, which usually points at the alignment rather than the tyre.
- There is a bulge, cut or crack in the sidewall, or the car pulls to one side.
What it costs, and what changes the price
Typically £50 to £200 per tyre.
- Brand and size. A premium tyre for a large wheel costs several times a budget one for a small wheel.
- Run-flat tyres and tyres with pressure sensors cost more to supply and to fit.
- Fitting, balancing, a new valve and disposal of the old tyre are usually included in a quoted price, but it is worth asking.
How long it takes
About twenty minutes a tyre, including balancing. Most garages can do it while you wait.
What the MOT data shows
Out of 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025, these are the parts covered by this job that testers recorded as faults.
| Part | Recorded in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 1,051,590 |
Common questions
How do I know what size I need?
The size is moulded into the sidewall, in the form 205/55 R16 91V. It is also in your handbook, and a tyre fitter will read it off the car for you.
Do I have to replace tyres in pairs?
You do not have to by law, but matching a pair across the same axle keeps the car balanced and is what most garages will suggest.
What is a puncture repair, and can mine be repaired?
A repair plugs and patches the hole from inside. It is allowed when the damage is in the central portion of the tread and within size limits set by a British Standard. Damage to the sidewall means a new tyre.