Do all four tire treads need to be the same for vehicle inspection?
2 Answers
For vehicle inspection, all four tire treads do not need to be identical, but the front left and right tires must match each other, and the rear left and right tires must also match each other. Below are specific details about the annual inspection: 1. Exterior: Modifications to the vehicle's shape and external dimensions can affect the annual inspection. 2. License plate: Issues such as unclear, damaged, or peeling license plates may also impact the inspection. 3. Lighting: Non-standard modifications like HID headlights can affect the inspection. 4. Body: Unauthorized changes to the body, such as repainting without reporting, may also influence the inspection.
I've just gone through the vehicle inspection process and indeed pondered about tire tread patterns. The inspection mainly checks if tire wear and specifications meet standards, without strict rules requiring all tread patterns to be identical. The key is ensuring consistency on the same axle—for example, the front two tires must have matching treads, and the rear pair should match as well. Significant tread differences might affect braking balance, which inspectors might flag. More importantly, they check tread depth; anything below 1.6mm is dangerous and will definitely fail inspection. Before my last inspection, I used a coin to measure the depth and found one rear tire nearly bald—I replaced it immediately. A quick tip: never mix winter tires with regular ones, even if treads differ, as this will cause issues during inspection. Tires are crucial for safety; don't cut corners here.
