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Anthony

Are Cut Slick Tires Road Legal?

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Anthony

Quick question, but are cut slick tires road legal?

 

I'm off to collect my new 205 tomorrow now that it's been MOT'd, but it's currently got cut slick tires on it and I'm not sure of the status of these when it comes to road use (they're Pirelli PZero's).

 

cutslick.JPG

 

I was hoping to have my reconditioned wheels sorted prior to collecting this, but that's not happened and therefore I don't have a set of conventional threaded tires to put on the car.

 

I'm well aware of the issues of driving with cut slicks in wet weather (thankfully the weather forecast look dry for tomorrow), but I'm not sure of the legal side of things. I really don't want to get stopped by the police on my way home only to find that they are illegal - as that will be 3 points and a £60 fine per illegal tyre, and given there's four tires, that's potentially an instant ban!

 

All I could find on the web when I had a hunt around was that *some* cut slick tires are road legal (Colway Formula 2's were the ones I found) and obviously some cars (such as the Lotus 340R and BMW M3 CSL) come with cut-slick like tires as standard.

 

Does anyone know for sure one way or the other?

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Justin

AFAIK as long as the tyres have at least the minimum legal required tread depth at three points across the middle 75% of the tyre width they are legal.

 

HTH

 

Justin.

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Anthony

Yeah, they've definately got grooves deeper than 1.6mm (legal minimum), but I wasn't sure if there are other rules that tires must adhere to.

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205turbo

yes they are 100% legal. I use them all year round. They will surprise you at how grippy they are even in the wet. The only down side is they only tend to last 500 miles :) but hay you can't have it all

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Anthony

Great - that's what I wanted to hear :)

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8pot

If they were proper slicks with grooves cut in then I do not think they are legal. My slicks read"not for highway use" on the side.My cut slicks read " for competition use only" but I was told that these were road legal.

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zeolite

I can confirm that they are legal Anthony as I have around on a set on the Jim Clark rally. I was worried about this and I checked. As for grip...unless it is absolutely bucketing down they will grip fine.

 

p.s. get my cheque yet Anthony?

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Anthony
If they were proper slicks with grooves cut in then I do not think they are legal. My slicks read"not for highway use" on the side.My cut slicks read " for competition use only" but I was told that these were road legal.

8pot - I believe that these cut slicks are sold pre-grooved rather than hand cut - the grooves all look very well cut and of equal length, plus I've found a picture of the tires on the wet showing the exact same tread pattern. I will check the tires for "Competition Use Only" markings similar to what you mention though.

 

Zeolite - yes I've got your cheque, but foolishly I cashed it and didn't write down the address that was on the back of it! Obviously not been able to contact you due to the forum being down all this week. PM me your address and I'll post the parts tomorrow (they're sat on my passenger seat ready to go).

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zeolite

pm sent m8

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mrswampy

ot a bit,

but have a look in theis monthes car mechanics ot the avon tyres web site they have just introduced some road legal cut slicks.

 

look the biz,might have to get a set when i get my spare alloys for track use

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Butler

I heard that at 12% of the tyres surface has to be cut away too.

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Anthony
I heard that at 12% of the tyres surface has to be cut away too.

The figure that was listed on the Colway road legal slicks was 17% IIRC

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blackscooby

cut_slick_sm.jpg

 

Don't exactly look road legal (Colway F2 cut slicks), but certainly don't say anything about competition use only or anything....

 

Haven't used them on the road myself, but my brother has. Bit scary when cold, but aparently amazing when warm.

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Guest jonnie205

The cut slicks on anthony's new pug were what i used in the KA challenge last year and are very good in the dry and the wet but no good in standing water. If there is any standing water then the tyre lifts off the road. you then need inters or get slots cut in the slicks to let water out of the grooves. they are road legal because on rallies you have to go on roads and the tyre manufacturers know that

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Guest noice

I'm certain Its a no no mate

 

competition log booked (MSA) rally cars are allowed on road only between stages of a registered (RAC MSA) rally.

there are two types of wording on competition tyres

im sorry I dont have blue book here with me so not exactly sure which even rally cars are allowed for road one can one can't,

 

what I do know is they carry very high fines for incorrect use

check with your MOT station who will have copy of construction & use highways act book

DONT CHANCE IT WITHOUT CHECKING

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