Tyre tread depth and the APK (MOT): what is the requirement?
Tyres are the only part of your car that touches the road. That is why the inspector at the APK, the compulsory Dutch vehicle inspection, looks at more than the tread. He also checks for damage, the tyre size and the tyre pressure. This article explains which rules apply and how to check your tyres yourself beforehand.
By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 4 November 2026
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The short answer
For the APK, a car tyre needs at least 1.6 mm of tread in the main grooves, all the way round the tread. If a tyre has 1.6 to 2.5 mm of tread, the inspector notes an advisory point. In addition, the carcass must not be visible, the tyre must not have a bulge, the tyres on one axle must be the same size and the tyre pressure must match the manufacturer’s specification, with no more than 0.3 bar difference on one axle.
How much tread does a tyre need for the APK?
A tyre needs at least 1.6 mm of tread. That is the requirement in article 5.2.27, paragraph 4, of the APK rules of the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority. The rule applies to summer tyres, winter tyres and all-season tyres. The inspector (in Dutch: keurmeester) measures in the main grooves. These are the wide grooves that run round the tyre, which also contain the tread wear indicators. A tread wear indicator is a small raised block of rubber at the bottom of the groove. When the tread is level with that block, the tyre is at the 1.6 mm limit.
The tread must be at least 1.6 mm all the way round. One spot with too little tread is therefore enough to fail. A spot like that can appear after an emergency stop with locked wheels, for example.
| Tread depth | APK result |
|---|---|
| Less than 1.6 mm | Rejection point (afkeurpunt), the car fails |
| 1.6 to 2.5 mm inclusive | Pass with advisory point AC1 (tyres) |
| More than 2.5 mm | No remark about the tread |
Source: RDW APK manual (APK-handboek), article 5.2.27 and advisory points
What an advisory point or a rejection point on the report means is explained in our article rejection point, repair point or advisory point.
How does the inspector measure the tread?
The inspector looks at the tyres with the car on the lift or above a pit, and turns each wheel all the way round. That way he sees the whole tread, including the inner edge that you cannot see from beside the car. If in doubt, he measures with a tread depth gauge.
He does not measure across the full width of the tyre. The RDW sets a measuring width of three quarters of the tread, in the centre of the tyre. The width of the tread is the tyre width minus 50 mm. An example from the RDW:
| Tyre 195/65 R15 | Value |
|---|---|
| Tyre width | 195 mm |
| Tread width (195 minus 50) | 145 mm |
| Measuring width (three quarters of 145) | 109 mm |
| Each side of the centre | 54.5 mm |
Source: RDW APK manual (APK-handboek), article 5.2.27, paragraph 4
The outer shoulders of the tyre are therefore outside the measurement. If the tyre is worn down to the carcass only on the inside, it does fail on damage. This wear pattern often appears when the wheel alignment is out or when the tyre pressure has been too low for a long time. That is why the inspector turns each wheel all the way round.
Which tyre damage leads to a failure?
A tyre fails if the carcass is visible or if the tyre has a bulge. The carcass is the layer of steel and textile cords under the rubber. A bulge in the sidewall means that cords inside the tyre have snapped, for example after hitting a kerb hard.
Small cracks in the rubber of an old tyre are a sign of ageing. As long as the carcass is not visible, they are not a rejection point at the APK. For your safety, they are still a reason to have the tyre replaced.
What are the rules on tyre size, direction of rotation and the spare wheel?
The tyres on one axle must have the same size marking. So front left and front right must be the same, and so must rear left and rear right. Front and rear may differ, as on many sporty cars and some electric cars.
Does the inspector also check the tyre pressure?
Yes. Under article 5.2.27, paragraph 9, the tyre pressure must match the manufacturer’s specification. The inspector measures with a tyre pressure gauge and compares the reading with the tyre pressure table in or on the car, for example on the door pillar or inside the fuel flap. According to the RDW inspection instructions, the tyres on one axle must have the same pressure, with no more than 0.3 bar difference. If he cannot measure the pressure, for example because the valve cannot be reached or is broken, that is a reason to fail.
According to the RDW, a tyre pressure that is too low must be brought up to the correct level during the inspection. So check the pressure yourself before you go.
Many cars have a tyre pressure monitoring system, also called TPMS. It warns you with a light on the dashboard when a tyre is low on air. On a passenger car first registered after 31 December 2017, this system must not show a fault at the APK. That is set out in article 5.2.27, paragraph 10. If the system gives a warning by light or sound after the engine is started, the car fails. If in doubt, the inspector takes the car for a test drive. On older cars, the inspector notes a repair advisory point instead.
When is it better to replace your tyres?
The legal limit of 1.6 mm is a minimum, not a recommendation. With less tread, a tyre clears less water and grip on a wet road decreases. The ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, therefore advises replacing tyres earlier:
| Situation | ANWB advice |
|---|---|
| Summer tyre | At 2 mm or less, prepare to replace it |
| Winter tyre | Think about replacing it at around 4 mm |
| Age | After 8 to 10 years a tyre is due for replacement because of ageing |
| Kilometres | After about 40,000 km a tyre is due for replacement because of wear |
Source: ANWB, Banden vervangen (in Dutch)
You can tell the age of a tyre from the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits give the week and year of production. 2215 means week 22 of 2015. Driving to Germany in winter? Winter tyres with the snowflake symbol are compulsory there in wintry conditions. The ANWB advises at least 4 mm of tread for Germany.
If your tyres need replacing, we can help with tyre replacement and changeovers, on Saturdays too. If you switch between summer and winter tyres twice a year, also read about changing to winter tyres in Rotterdam.
How do you check your tyres yourself before the APK?
You can check your tyres yourself in five minutes. That way you avoid failing on something you could have spotted in advance.
- Turn the steering wheel fully to the left or right, so you can see the full width of the front tyres.
- Find the tread wear indicators in the main grooves. If the tread is almost level with those blocks, the tyre is due for replacement.
- If in doubt, measure with a tread depth gauge at several points round the tyre.
- Look at both sidewalls for bulges, cuts and cracks. Also feel the inside edge of the tyre, as wear there often goes unnoticed.
- Check the tyre pressure against the values on the door pillar or inside the fuel flap, with the tyres cold.
- Start the car and check that the tyre pressure warning light goes out after starting.
For tips on the rest of your car, see our article on preparing your car for the APK and our APK checklist. Would you like us to take a look? Book the APK inspection for your car with us. The APK costs € 50 at our garage for a petrol car, petrol hybrid or electric car.