The thread depth of a brand-new tyre can vary by manufacturer, design and the type of tyre, so there is no normal amount of tread depth for a new tyre. Michelin's website explains that 'if the tread is too deep, it will also consume too much energy during driving, and therefore fuel, because of the heat released by the rubber when it deforms. This is why the tyre's tread depth is designed by the manufacturer to find the best balance between the life of the tyre and the fuel consumption related to tyres.' It also goes on to say that Michelin tyres are designed to perform well until the minimum tread depth is reached.

While the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm it is generally recommended to replace tyres at 3mm depth in order to maintain optimum performance. When it comes to replacing tyres it is ultimately the buyer's decision over whether to choose an EV-optimised tyre with lower rolling resistance and potentially less tread or a conventional tyre.