How much do new tyres cost?
A new car tyre in the UK typically costs £40 to £70 for a budget brand, £70 to £120 for a mid range brand and £120 or more for a premium brand, with fitting, balancing and disposal adding roughly £10 to £25 per tyre when they are charged separately. For most everyday cars a fitted tyre lands between £70 and £120, and a full set of four mid range tyres runs from about £320 to £620. The figure that changes the decision is not the price though. Under the DVSA MOT inspection manual, tread below the legal 1.6mm limit is graded Dangerous rather than Major, which means the car must not be driven away from the test at all.
Tyres are the one purchase where the sticker price tells you least about the real cost. Four rubber patches roughly the size of your hand are the only thing connecting your car to the road, and they are also the only part of the car that the MOT can grade as too dangerous to drive away on. This guide gives the current UK prices, explains what a fitted price should actually include, and sets out the part most tyre price pages leave out: what the DVSA does when the tread runs out.
How much do new tyres cost?
Tyre pricing sorts itself into three broad tiers. UK price guides published in 2026 put a budget tyre at roughly £40 to £70, a mid range tyre at £70 to £120, and a premium tyre at £120 upwards, with large or performance sizes running much higher again. For the sort of car most people drive, a fitted tyre lands between £70 and £120.
| What you are buying | Typical fitted price | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Budget brand, one tyre | £40 to £70 | Meets the legal standard, weaker wet braking and shorter life |
| Mid range brand, one tyre | £70 to £120 | The band most everyday cars sit in |
| Premium brand, one tyre | £120 and up | Larger sizes, performance ratings, longer wear life |
| Fitting, balancing, valve, disposal | £10 to £25 per tyre | Only if not already included in the price quoted |
| Four mid range tyres | £320 to £620 | Wheel size is the biggest single factor |
| Wheel alignment after fitting | Around £40 to £80 | Optional, but worth it if the old set wore unevenly |
Wheel size moves this more than brand does. The same model of tyre in a 15 inch size for a small hatchback and a 19 inch size for a large SUV can differ by a factor of three. So a quote is only meaningful against your actual tyre size, which is printed on the sidewall in the form 205/55 R16 91V.
What a fitted price should include
The most common way to be surprised at the counter is a price that covered the tyre and nothing else. Before you agree, check that the figure includes all four of these:
- Fitting. Removing the old tyre from the rim and mounting the new one.
- Balancing. Small weights added to the rim so the wheel spins true. Skipping this is what causes a vibration through the steering at speed, which our guide to why your steering wheel shakes covers in more detail.
- A new valve. A few pounds, and a false economy to reuse an old one.
- Disposal of the old tyre. A legal requirement for the fitter, usually a small per tyre charge.
Alignment is the one genuine extra. It is not needed every time, but if the old tyres wore unevenly on one edge, fitting new ones without correcting the alignment simply wears the new set the same way. Our guide to wheel alignment cost explains when it is worth paying for.
Why the MOT treats a worn tyre differently from everything else
This is the part that changes how you should think about the price, and it is missing from almost every tyre cost page.
MOT defects are graded minor, major or dangerous. Major and dangerous both fail the test. A dangerous grade goes further: it means the car must not be driven at all until the fault is fixed, even if your current MOT certificate still has months to run. Most common failures are graded major. Worn tread is not.
The DVSA MOT inspection manual deals with tyres at section 5.2.3, and the grades are:
| Tyre defect | MOT grade | What it means on the day |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth below the legal requirement | Dangerous | Fail, and must not be driven away |
| Lump, bulge or tear from the structure separating, or cords exposed | Dangerous | Fail, and must not be driven away |
| Cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Major | Fail |
| Tyres of different structure on the same axle | Major | Fail |
| A tyre fouling part of the vehicle | Major | Fail |
The DVSA test statistics show what that means at scale. Across a full year of Class 3 and 4 tests, tyres were involved in 6.39% of tests and 12.86% of all defects, which puts them fourth behind lamps, suspension and brakes. Rank the same categories by dangerous defects instead and the order turns over completely: a dangerous tyre defect was recorded on 4.74% of tests, against 2.58% for brakes, 0.50% for suspension and just 0.13% for lamps. Tyres cause more dangerous defects than every other category combined. Our guide to why cars fail their MOT works through the full DVSA dataset.
So the honest way to frame the cost of a tyre is this. A tyre replaced at 3mm is a planned £70 to £120 purchase you made on your own terms. The same tyre replaced at 1.5mm on MOT day is a failed test, a car you cannot legally drive home, and whatever the testing garage happens to charge while your car is on their ramp.
What it costs to leave it too late
There are three separate bills hiding behind a bald tyre, and only one of them is the tyre.
The roadside cost
GOV.UK reports that one in five motorway breakdowns are caused by worn or incorrectly inflated tyres. The same DVSA advice notes that only one in six drivers remembered to check their tyre pressure before a long journey, and nearly a third are not confident checking pressure at all. A blowout at motorway speed is not a repair bill, it is a recovery, a lost day and potentially far worse.
The legal cost
GOV.UK is blunt about the penalty: if you are stopped by the police and found with illegal tyres, you could receive a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre. Per tyre is doing the heavy lifting in that sentence. A car with four tyres under the limit reaches a theoretical £10,000 and 12 points, and 12 points inside three years normally means a disqualification.
The MOT day cost
A dangerous defect leaves you with no good options at the test centre. You either buy tyres there and then at whatever they charge, or arrange for the car to be moved without driving it. Neither is a position to negotiate from. Fitting tyres a fortnight before the test costs the same money with all the leverage on your side. Our guide to how to prepare for your MOT lists the rest of the checks worth doing in that same week, and you can check when your MOT is due free in a few seconds.
Budget, mid range or premium: what the money buys
Every tyre sold legally in the UK meets the same minimum standard, so a budget tyre is not an unsafe tyre. What the extra money buys is measured performance beyond that minimum, and it shows up in three places.
- Wet braking. The gap between a budget and a premium tyre in a wet stop from 50mph can be several car lengths. This is the single strongest argument for spending more.
- Wear life. A premium tyre that lasts 30,000 miles at £130 costs less per mile than a budget tyre that lasts 15,000 at £55. Cost per mile is the fair comparison, not the price on the day.
- Noise and comfort. Largely a matter of taste, though the EU tyre label on every tyre gives you a noise rating alongside wet grip and fuel efficiency, so you can compare like with like before you buy.
A reasonable rule: if the car is worth keeping and you do real mileage, mid range or premium wins on cost per mile. If the car is near the end of its life or barely leaves town, a budget tyre from a recognised maker is a defensible choice. What is never defensible is a part worn tyre of unknown history on the front axle.
When to replace, and why 3mm beats 1.6mm
The legal requirement is set out in Annex 6 of The Highway Code: cars, light vans and light trailers must have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference. Tyres must also be correctly inflated to the manufacturer specification and free from certain cuts and other defects.
1.6mm is the point at which the tyre becomes illegal, not the point at which it stops working. Tread grooves exist to move water out from under the contact patch, and as they shallow, the volume of water they can clear falls away sharply. Wet stopping distances lengthen long before you reach the legal limit.
Practical approach: treat 3mm as the point to start pricing up replacements and 2mm as the point to stop delaying. That gives you time to shop around, and it keeps a comfortable margin between you and a dangerous defect at the next test. Our guide to how to check your tyre tread shows the 20p coin method and where on the tyre to check, and the Highway Code advice on checking pressures weekly, before a journey and when the tyres are cold, is worth building into the same routine.
How to keep the cost sensible
Price against your actual tyre size
Read the sidewall and quote that code to everyone you ask. A price for the wrong size is not a price. It also stops a fitter steering you toward whatever is in stock.
Buy in pairs, across an axle
You rarely need four at once. Replacing both fronts or both rears together keeps grip even side to side and spreads the cost. Fitting one new tyre opposite a nearly worn one gives you uneven braking on that axle.
Ask for the total, not the tyre price
Ask what the out the door figure is including fitting, balancing, valve and disposal. A garage that gives you that number without hesitating is usually the one that will not add to it later. Independent garages are typically well below main dealer rates for identical work, which main dealer versus independent garages sets out.
Fix the cause, not just the symptom
If the old set wore out early or unevenly, buying an identical replacement set without checking alignment and pressures just buys the same problem again. Get the tracking checked at the same visit.
Booking tyres and a check at a local garage
Tyre prices vary more between garages than almost any other job, because stock and buying power differ so much. Put your postcode in and compare local garages, check their ratings and opening hours and send a booking request in about a minute. Give them your registration and your tyre size, ask for the fully fitted total including balancing and disposal, and ask them to check the tread on all four while the car is up so you know what is coming next. You pay the garage directly and there is no booking fee. If you want to sanity check the replies, how to choose a good garage is a short read, and what an MOT advisory means explains how seriously to take a tyre written up as an advisory last time.
Key takeaways
- Typical UK prices per tyre fitted: budget £40 to £70, mid range £70 to £120, premium £120 upwards. Most everyday cars sit in the £70 to £120 band.
- A full set of four mid range tyres usually comes to between £320 and £620 fitted, depending on wheel size.
- The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread, around the entire circumference (The Highway Code, Annex 6).
- Worn tread is a DANGEROUS defect at the MOT, not just a fail. So is a lump, bulge or exposed cord. A cut down to the cords is Major.
- DVSA figures show tyres caused a dangerous defect on 4.74% of tests, more than brakes, suspension and lamps combined.
- The penalty for illegal tyres is up to a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points PER TYRE, so four bad tyres can mean 12 points and a lost licence.
- GOV.UK reports that one in five motorway breakdowns are caused by worn or incorrectly inflated tyres.
Frequently asked questions
How much does one new tyre cost in the UK?
For a common family car size, expect £40 to £70 for a budget brand, £70 to £120 for a mid range brand and £120 or more for a premium brand. Most drivers of everyday cars pay somewhere between £70 and £120 fitted. Wheel size is the biggest single factor, because a 19 inch tyre for a large SUV can cost two or three times the equivalent 15 inch tyre. Always check whether the price you are quoted is fully fitted, since some sellers show the tyre alone and add fitting, balancing, a new valve and disposal at the counter.
How much does a full set of four tyres cost?
A set of four mid range tyres for a popular hatchback or saloon typically comes to between £320 and £620 fitted. Budget sets on a small car can start near £200, while premium tyres on large alloy wheels run well past £800. You do not have to buy four at once. Tyres must match in structure across an axle, so replacing in pairs, both fronts or both rears together, is the normal approach and keeps the handling balanced.
Does a worn tyre fail the MOT?
Yes, and more seriously than most drivers realise. In the DVSA MOT inspection manual, section 5.2.3, a tyre whose tread depth is not in accordance with the requirements is graded Dangerous. Major and Dangerous both fail the test, but Dangerous also means the car must not be driven away in that condition, even if your existing certificate has not run out yet. A lump, bulge or tear caused by the structure separating, or exposed cords, is also Dangerous. A cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords is Major.
What is the fine for driving on illegal tyres?
GOV.UK states that if you are stopped by the police and found with illegal tyres you could receive a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre. The per tyre part is what catches people out. A car with all four tyres below the limit carries a theoretical maximum of £10,000 and 12 penalty points, and 12 points within three years normally means disqualification. Set against that, a £70 tyre is not really a cost at all.
When should I replace my tyres, at 1.6mm or earlier?
The legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread and around the entire circumference, but that is the point at which the tyre becomes illegal, not the point at which it stops performing. Wet grip and stopping distance fall away well before the legal limit, because there is less groove volume left to clear water. Common practice is to plan a replacement at around 3mm and to treat 2mm as the point to stop putting it off. That also keeps you clear of an unexpected Dangerous defect at the MOT.
Can I mix tyre brands on my car?
You can mix brands, but not structures on the same axle. The MOT inspection manual grades tyres of different structure on the same axle as a Major defect, which means radial and cross ply must not be mixed across an axle. Beyond the legal minimum, it is sensible to keep the same tyre on both ends of an axle so the grip is even side to side, particularly in the wet. Mixing a premium tyre on one front wheel with a budget tyre on the other gives you uneven braking and is a false economy.
Why do my tyres wear out unevenly?
Uneven wear is usually alignment, pressure or a worn suspension component rather than the tyre itself. Wear on both outer edges normally means underinflation, wear down the centre strip means overinflation, and wear on one edge only usually points to the tracking or camber being out. The Highway Code tells you to check pressures weekly and to do it when the tyres are cold, because warm tyres give a misleading reading. If a new set wears unevenly within a few thousand miles, get the alignment checked before you buy more rubber.