Part explained

Replacing tyres: summer, winter, tread depth and price

Tyres are the only piece of rubber between you and the road — about a palm's worth per tyre. Worn rubber costs you braking distance, cornering grip and the aquaplaning margin in the wet. This page explains when tyres need replacing, the difference between summer, winter and all-season compounds, and what a new tyre costs in the Netherlands.

By the onderdelen.autos editorial team · Updated 28 May 2026 · About the editorial team

What does the tyre do?

The tyre carries the entire weight of the car, transfers engine power and braking force to the road surface, and absorbs small surface irregularities together with the shock absorbers. Rubber compound determines grip at different temperatures: summer rubber is harder and only delivers wet-grip below around 7 °C. Winter rubber stays flexible in the cold but wears far faster in warm weather. The tread channels water away — a groove that's worn too shallow no longer can.

Signs of worn tyres

Tread depth below 1.6 mm in the main groove (legal minimum and an immediate MOT failure).
Uneven wear — only on the outer edge, only on the inner edge, or patchy tread (check alignment and shock absorbers).
Visible cracks, bulges or chunks missing from the tread.
Age over 6 years — check the DOT code on the sidewall (four digits, production week and year).
Aquaplaning at speeds where it didn't occur before.
Longer braking distance on wet road surfaces.
Steering wheel vibration that doesn't go away after balancing — tyre out of round.

When to replace

The legal minimum is 1.6 mm of tread in the main grooves. In practice, wet grip drops noticeably well above that threshold: tyre manufacturers recommend 4 mm for winter tyres and 3 mm for summer tyres. Tyres older than 6 years are suspect regardless of tread — the rubber hardens. Seasonally: around 7 °C is the switching point between summer and winter rubber, in either direction. All-season tyres are a compromise: they meet the winter tyre requirement but never match a dedicated summer or winter set.

Typical interval: 30,000–60,000 km

What does a new tyre cost?

Indicative per tyre, VAT included but mounting excluded: a budget summer tyre for a small car runs € 40 – € 70, a premium summer tyre (Michelin, Continental, Goodyear) more like € 100 – € 180. Winter tyres typically sit € 10 – € 30 above the summer price of the same brand; all-season somewhere in between. Larger SUV sizes can run up to € 250 per tyre. Used tyres from a Dutch dismantler or surplus stock cost € 15 – € 70, but always check tread and DOT age. Mounting, balancing and old tyre disposal: € 15 – € 30 per tyre at a workshop.

Condition	From	To
New	€ 40	€ 250
Used / refurbished	€ 15	€ 70

Browse tyres →

Compare inventory from Dutch sellers — new and used tyres, all seasons — and order directly from the seller.

DIY or workshop?

Difficulty:

Getting a tyre on or off a rim is workshop work. A mounted tyre then needs balancing — otherwise the steering vibrates at speed and the rubber wears unevenly. What you can do yourself: swap the wheel with mounted tyre on the car (summer/winter changeover with your second set), check tread depth with a coin or gauge, and check tyre pressure monthly. Order the tyres online yourself, have them shipped to an independent workshop, and pay only for mounting — you'll often save half.

Tyre iron and soap solution (for mounting)
Tyre press or mounting machine — not available at home
Wheel balancer — not available at home
Torque wrench to retighten wheels correctly afterwards

Frequently asked questions

What is the legal minimum tread depth?

1.6 mm in the main grooves, measured across the width of the tread. Below that: immediate MOT failure and a fine if pulled over.

When do I switch from summer to winter tyres?

Around 7 °C average daily temperature — in the Netherlands roughly late October and back again late March. Winter rubber above 7 °C wears faster and grips less than summer rubber.

Are all-season tyres a good choice?

For drivers with low mileage who don't ski or drive in mountains: a reasonable compromise. They meet the German and Austrian winter tyre requirement (M+S or 3PMSF marking). But in a real summer or a real winter, dedicated sets remain better.

Can I fit two new tyres to the front and leave the old ones on the rear?

No, the other way round. New tyres belong on the rear axle for stability under hard braking or swerving — you don't want the most worn tyre causing the back to step out.

How do I read the DOT code on the sidewall?

A four-digit code: the first two digits are the production week, the last two the year. DOT 2624 means week 26 of 2024. Tyres older than 6 years are suspect regardless of tread — hardened rubber.

Can I buy used tyres?

Yes, provided tread is well above 3 mm, there are no cracks or bulges, the DOT age is under 5 years, and wear is even. Dutch dismantlers regularly offer clean sets from low-mileage cars.