UAE Tyre Laws and Fines: Worn Tyres, Age and Inspections

The fine for worn or damaged tyres

Khaleej Times reported that the fine for driving with damaged or worn-out tyres is Dh500 and four black points, with the vehicle impounded for one week, according to UAE traffic laws. The report came from an Abu Dhabi Police summer safety campaign aimed especially at lorry drivers, but the rule it quotes applies to motorists generally.

Fines and procedures can be updated, and enforcement details vary between emirates. Treat these figures as reported guidance and check the current position with your local police or the official traffic fines service.

Further reading: Khaleej Times: Dh500 fine, four black points, impoundment for worn-out tyres

What counts as a worn or unfit tyre

There is no single list printed on the tyre, but the signs police and testing centres look for are well known. The 1.6 mm tread wear indicators moulded into the grooves are the commonly referenced minimum. When the tread is level with those bars, the tyre is due for replacement.

Damage matters as much as tread depth. Police campaigns have urged drivers to replace tyres showing breakage or cracks on their surfaces.

If you are not sure whether your tyres would pass, a tyre professional can measure tread depth and check the sidewalls in a few minutes.

• Tread worn down to the 1.6 mm wear bars.
• Cracks in the sidewall or between tread blocks.
• Bulges, cuts or exposed cords.
• Uneven wear severe enough to expose the casing.
• Tyres that do not match the size or rating the car requires.

Further reading: Khaleej Times: Dh500 fine, four black points, impoundment for worn-out tyres

Tyre age: what the guidance says

Age is the most misunderstood part of UAE tyre rules. UAE tyre retailers such as PitStopArabia and Dial A Tire have published guidance that tyres are considered expired after a set period from their production date, and that old stock should not be sold or fitted even if it has never been used. In practice, fitters across the UAE commonly treat about five years from the DOT date as the replacement point.

We present this as reported guidance rather than a definitive statement of law, because the exact rule and how it is applied at inspection can change. If your registration or inspection is coming up and your tyres are near that age, check with your testing centre or replace them first.

You can read a tyre’s age from the last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall: 0322 means week 3 of 2022.

Further reading: PitStopArabia: tyre expiry in the UAE; Dial A Tire: why unused old tyres are illegal in the UAE

Why police focus on tyres in summer

UAE police issue tyre warnings every summer because high temperatures increase the risk of blowouts. Khaleej Times has reported police citing old tyres, incorrect pressures and overloading among the main causes of summer tyre failures.

A pre-summer check covers the same points an officer would notice: tread depth, cracks, bulges, age and pressure. It also covers the spare, which police campaigns have reminded drivers to check.

Further reading: Khaleej Times: Dh500 fine, four black points, impoundment for worn-out tyres

Tyres at vehicle registration and testing

Vehicle testing during registration renewal includes the tyres. A car with worn, damaged or mismatched tyres can fail and need a retest. Replacing tyres before the test costs the same as replacing them after, but saves a second visit.

If you are unsure whether your tyres would pass, a quick inspection of tread depth, DOT date and sidewall condition will tell you.

Bring the car to the test with tyres at the correct pressure and the same size and type on each axle. A temporary space-saver spare should not be on the car at the test.

How to stay on the right side of the rules

A few minutes a month keeps your tyres legal and safe.

1. Check tread against the wear bars every month.
2. Read the DOT date on every tyre, including the spare.
3. Keep pressures at the placard value, checked cold.
4. Replace any tyre with cracks, bulges or cuts.
5. Fit the size, load index and speed rating the car requires.

Check tyres when you buy a used car

A used car can look perfect and still have old tyres. Sellers sometimes fit cheap or old stock to pass a quick inspection. Before you buy, read the DOT code on all four tyres and the spare, check that they are the same model on each axle, and look for cracks in the sidewalls. If the tyres are near the five-year mark, factor a new set into the price you offer.

Replacing tyres before they become a problem

If your tyres are worn, damaged or near the age limit, we can quote replacements with a recent production date and fit them at your home or office or at a partner centre across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ajman. Compare options in our tyre shop, including value and premium brands such as Goodyear. If you are not sure whether replacement is needed, our summer tyre check covers tread, age and pressures, and our tyre care tips explain what to look for yourself.