Emergency Vehicle Tyre Tread Depth?
Emergency Vehicle Tyre Tread Depth?
Author
Discussion

AndyAudi

Original Poster:

3,691 posts

243 months

Yesterday (11:28)
quotequote all
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?)

Earthdweller

17,209 posts

147 months

Yesterday (11:49)
quotequote all
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

E-bmw

11,994 posts

173 months

Yesterday (11:51)
quotequote all
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.

AndyAudi

Original Poster:

3,691 posts

243 months

Yesterday (12:08)
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
A pretty decent answer
Thanks

trickywoo

13,474 posts

251 months

Yesterday (14:51)
quotequote all
Michelin have a statement saying their tyres perform right up to the last kilometre on the minimum 1.6mm.

AndyAudi

Original Poster:

3,691 posts

243 months

Yesterday (15:10)
quotequote all
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

LosingGrip

8,586 posts

180 months

Yesterday (17:40)
quotequote all
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.

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...

p4cks

7,306 posts

220 months

Yesterday (18:27)
quotequote all
Likely their tyres are managed through the likes of Tructyre and subject to regular checks

Tom1312

1,164 posts

167 months

Yesterday (19:38)
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3.5 here.

Simpo Two

90,817 posts

286 months

Yesterday (20:59)
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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?

Drawweight

3,448 posts

137 months

Yesterday (21:27)
quotequote all
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 would definitely think mostly for liability reasons, as well as the infrastructure and paperwork to sell them.

Doesitdrive

46 posts

2 months

Yesterday (23:51)
quotequote all
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.

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.