Challenge
Anyone who only thinks about tread depth misses half of the tyre requirements. The regulation sets four independent requirements at once — tread, damage, shape, and size per axle — and each of those four can fail a tyre on its own, even if the other three are fine.
Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Tyres: tread, size and damage each count separately
Core
The tread depth of the main grooves must be at least 1.6 mm around the entire circumference of the tread. Wear indicators — the raised bits of rubber moulded into the groove — do NOT count towards that: when in doubt, the mechanic measures with a tread depth gauge in the wide grooves and in the grooves with an indicator, not on the indicator itself. In addition, and completely independent of how much tread remains, tyres may not show damage where the carcass — the fabric under the rubber — is visible, and no bulges. Each of these requirements stands on its own; a tyre with fine tread but a visible carcass still fails. A fourth requirement the book adds: tyres on one axle must have the same size designation. An exception applies only to the emergency or spare wheel — that one may differ. These requirements do not apply only on the day you drive to the garage in Apeldoorn for the APK: the law generally prohibits driving a vehicle that causes or may cause danger on the road, every day you take to the road.
Read this section on its own page: Core: Tyres: tread, size and damage each count separately
Why it matters
A tyre with just enough tread but a visible carcass offers no certainty — the fabric underneath is not designed for grip and can fail unexpectedly at high speed. And two different sizes on one axle disrupts the vehicle's balance, even if both tyres individually look fine. The APK at the garage in Apeldoorn is one check moment; the standard itself applies on every trip.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Tyres: tread, size and damage each count separately
Source: WVW 1994 art. 5 · checked 2026-10-22
Frequently asked questions
‘When measuring tread depth, you simply count the height of the wear indicators as tread’ – is that true?
No. The tread must be at least 1.6 mm, WITH THE EXCEPTION of wear indicators. Those therefore do not count in the measurement
‘You may always fit different tyre sizes on one axle, as long as both tyres individually have enough tread’ – is that true?
No. Tyres on one axle must have the same size designation, except when an emergency or spare wheel is used. Enough tread on both tyres alone is therefore not sufficient
‘As long as tread depth is 1.6 mm or more, it does not matter if the carcass of the tyre is visible somewhere’ – is that true?
No. Tyres may not show damage where the carcass is visible, independent of how much tread remains
‘The tyre requirements (tread, damage, bulging) are only checked at the annual APK inspection; in between it does not matter’ – is that true?
No. Driving a vehicle that causes or may cause danger on the road is prohibited at all times, not only on the day of the APK. A garage in Apeldoorn inspects once a year, but the standard itself applies continuously
‘A tyre with exactly 1.6 mm of tread is already rejected; you need more than 1.6 mm’ – is that true?
No. The requirement is at least 1.6 mm in the main grooves: exactly 1.6 mm still complies.