On Michelin tyres, the Bibendum character is featured on the sidewalls tyres indicates the position of the tread wear indicators.
These indicators are small raised areas deep within the tread.
When the tyre tread depth reaches the indicator (the regulatory limit of 1.6 mm), the tyres must be replaced, as safety is no longer adequate and this constitutes an offence.
Michelin recommends that you do not wait until this limit is reached. On wet roads, using a worn tyre increases the risk of losing control due to aquaplaning. A tyre tread that is too worn cannot disperse the water that accumulates beneath the tyres, causing you to lose control of the car.
To ensure good grip on snow, it is even recommended to change your tyres when the remaining tread depth is 3.5 mm.
