Emergency Vehicle Tyre Tread Depth?
Discussion
There’s been a lot of water on roads with us lately & watching an emergency driver travelling at speed the other day made me wonder - “I bet they don’t run tyres down to near the limit”
So could someone in the know satisfy my curiosity please, I’m imagining there’s a standard walk round & check vehicle at start of shift- at what point are the tyres deemed to need changed?
(& if it’s say 3.5mm, what happens to all the part worns, are they just scrapped?)
So could someone in the know satisfy my curiosity please, I’m imagining there’s a standard walk round & check vehicle at start of shift- at what point are the tyres deemed to need changed?
(& if it’s say 3.5mm, what happens to all the part worns, are they just scrapped?)
No they don't
High performance cars are changed at 4mm, response at 3mm and "runabouts" at 2mm
Tyres are not repaired, if there's a puncture they are replaced
If the car is involved in an incident such has high speed pursuit over speed bumps the tyres will likely be replaced
Safety comes first
Tyres are bought in bulk through tendered contracts and for way less than retail
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
High performance cars are changed at 4mm, response at 3mm and "runabouts" at 2mm
Tyres are not repaired, if there's a puncture they are replaced
If the car is involved in an incident such has high speed pursuit over speed bumps the tyres will likely be replaced
Safety comes first
Tyres are bought in bulk through tendered contracts and for way less than retail
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
Don't know the actual answer but my guess would be you are probably reasonably accurate in your guess of 3.5.
Many manufacturers say the performance trails off from around 3.5/2.5mm so my guess would be they follow manufacturers recommendations.
Any tyres would be scrapped if done in-house (also a guess) or perhaps available (under the counter) if done at a local tyre place.
Many manufacturers say the performance trails off from around 3.5/2.5mm so my guess would be they follow manufacturers recommendations.
Any tyres would be scrapped if done in-house (also a guess) or perhaps available (under the counter) if done at a local tyre place.
trickywoo said:
Michelin have a statement saying their tyres perform right up to the last kilometre on the minimum 1.6mm.
I’d guess that relates to level of grip when in contact with the surface though, they’d float a bit quicker with less tread, I have Michelin on my motor & definitely notice the difference in the wet depending on tread depth Earthdweller said:
No they don't
High performance cars are changed at 4mm, response at 3mm and "runabouts" at 2mm
Tyres are not repaired, if there's a puncture they are replaced
If the car is involved in an incident such has high speed pursuit over speed bumps the tyres will likely be replaced
Safety comes first
Tyres are bought in bulk through tendered contracts and for way less than retail
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
Different in my force. All vehicles are 3mm. RPU, ARV, NPT or response. Only difference is motorcycles which are changed at 2mm (legal limit is 1mm for those that didn't know). However, workshops are good at changing them early if the tyre has squared off. High performance cars are changed at 4mm, response at 3mm and "runabouts" at 2mm
Tyres are not repaired, if there's a puncture they are replaced
If the car is involved in an incident such has high speed pursuit over speed bumps the tyres will likely be replaced
Safety comes first
Tyres are bought in bulk through tendered contracts and for way less than retail
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
They don't get repaired though (much to the ARV skippers annoyance when they had a friendly fire stinger deployment on their XC90 with new tyres all round...
Simpo Two said:
Earthdweller said:
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
Because they CBA or because the tyres are technically unfit for use as part-worns?Earthdweller said:
No they don't
High performance cars are changed at 4mm, response at 3mm and "runabouts" at 2mm
Tyres are not repaired, if there's a puncture they are replaced
If the car is involved in an incident such has high speed pursuit over speed bumps the tyres will likely be replaced
Safety comes first
Tyres are bought in bulk through tendered contracts and for way less than retail
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
While safety does come first, and the details are probably correct, in the case of LFB the last bits are not true. High performance cars are changed at 4mm, response at 3mm and "runabouts" at 2mm
Tyres are not repaired, if there's a puncture they are replaced
If the car is involved in an incident such has high speed pursuit over speed bumps the tyres will likely be replaced
Safety comes first
Tyres are bought in bulk through tendered contracts and for way less than retail
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
They don't buy in bulk, they buy when needed fron the contractor they use, at retail, fitted by the contractor on site, and the used ones certainly do get another life, even if it is just for the cases.
How do police and ambulance ensure they are recycled?
I don't see piles of used tyres at depots on my travels, and recyclers don't collect them in small numbers.
Doesitdrive said:
While safety does come first, and the details are probably correct, in the case of LFB the last bits are not true.
They don't buy in bulk, they buy when needed fron the contractor they use, at retail, fitted by the contractor on site, and the used ones certainly do get another life, even if it is just for the cases.
How do police and ambulance ensure they are recycled?
I don't see piles of used tyres at depots on my travels, and recyclers don't collect them in small numbers.
I've no idea what the fire bridge do tbf They don't buy in bulk, they buy when needed fron the contractor they use, at retail, fitted by the contractor on site, and the used ones certainly do get another life, even if it is just for the cases.
How do police and ambulance ensure they are recycled?
I don't see piles of used tyres at depots on my travels, and recyclers don't collect them in small numbers.
I've no idea what the ambo do
A large police force could be running around 4k vehicles, many doing very high mileages and several sets of tyres annually
I can recall V6 Vectras and T5 Volvos regularly doing front tyres in 2 or 3 thousand miles .. that was in some cases almost weekly !!
I don't suppose a fire truck does that ?
There are specific contracts where the tyres are bought in huge numbers, whether you class that as bulk is for you, some do the tyres in house and others through external fitters
They don't pay retail prices nor iirc VAT so the tyres are cheap
A Stanley knife ensures the tyres cannot be re used or sold on
Drawweight said:
Simpo Two said:
Earthdweller said:
They are rendered unusable and recycled after use .. they are not sold on as part worns
Because they CBA or because the tyres are technically unfit for use as part-worns?I can recall when cars going for disposal at the auctions had new tyres fitted and were checked/serviced before being sent off .. purely the same reason, but they don't do that anymore
It's the same reason they have been drilling holes in BMW engines on disposal rendering them non runners .. liability
I believe the Police in Ireland don't sell any of their vehicles on when they are replaced .. they all get sent for scrap, for the same reasons I believe
Edited by Earthdweller on Tuesday 27th January 16:59
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