Primary keyword: worn tyres pink slip NSW

What is a pink slip and what does it check?

In New South Wales, most vehicles over five years old need an annual safety inspection — the “pink slip”, officially an eSafety check — before you can renew registration. It’s carried out at an Authorised Inspection Station (AIS) against Transport for NSW light vehicle safety check standards. Tyres and wheels are a core part of that check, because they’re the only thing connecting your car to the road.

What tread depth fails a pink slip in NSW?

The legal minimum tread depth in Australia is 1.5mm, and it must be present across the central three-quarters (about 75%) of the tyre’s tread width, right around the circumference. Anything less is an automatic fail. Note this is the Australian figure — not the 1.6mm you’ll see quoted on overseas sites. We explain it fully in legal minimum tyre tread depth in Australia.

Every tyre has built-in tread wear indicators — small raised bars in the grooves. When the surrounding tread wears down level with those bars, you’re at or very near the 1.5mm limit and heading for a fail. You can do a rough self-check before you book in; our guide on how to check tread depth without a gauge shows how, though the moulded indicators are the true legal line.

What else about tyres fails the inspection?

Tread depth is only half the story. An inspector will also fail your car for:

Defect	Why it fails
Exposed cords or canvas	Any visible fabric or steel cord is an instant fail, wherever it appears.
Deep cuts reaching the cords	A cut deep enough to see the internal structure means the tyre is no longer roadworthy.
Bulges or bubbles (sidewall)	Usually a sign the internal cords have broken — a blowout risk and automatic fail. See sidewall cracking.
Wrong size, load or speed rating	Tyres must meet the specifications on the tyre placard (driver’s door jamb).
Mismatched tyres on an axle	Tyres on the same axle should match in size, construction and rating for safe braking and steering.
Perished / badly cracked rubber	Age-related UV cracking can fail, especially combined with other wear.

If your car has a space-saver spare, it must still be in safe, usable condition. Not sure whether yours has more life in it? See when to replace tyres for the six signs beyond tread depth.

What happens if my tyres fail?

A fail on the pink slip isn’t a fine — it’s a report that lists what must be fixed. You replace the tyres (or repair the fault), return to the same station, and the re-inspection for those items is usually free within a set window. Until you pass, you can’t renew your registration. Driving on the failed tyres in the meantime is a separate risk: worn or illegal tyres on the road can attract a defect notice and the fines and demerits for illegal tyres that apply per tyre.

How do I make sure I pass on tyres?

Before you book the eSafety check, walk around the car and check each tyre: look for the wear indicators sitting proud of the tread, run your eye along both sidewalls for cuts and bulges, and confirm the tyre size matches the placard. If a tyre is marginal on tread, it’s cheaper and safer to replace it than to pay for a fail, a new set, and a re-inspection. Drivers in other states face the same principle under different names — compare Victoria’s roadworthy and Queensland’s safety certificate.

Bottom line

Worn tyres fail a NSW pink slip, full stop. Keep tread above 1.5mm across the central three-quarters, with no exposed cords, cuts or bulges, and the correct size and ratings for your placard. Check them yourself before you book, and you won’t be paying twice.

Frequently asked questions

Is the NSW tread limit 1.5mm or 1.6mm?
1.5mm. The 1.6mm figure is the UK/European minimum and is often quoted incorrectly for Australia. NSW and the rest of Australia use 1.5mm.

Will one bald tyre fail the whole inspection?
Yes. A single tyre below the limit or with exposed cord is enough to fail the eSafety check until it’s replaced.

Does a plugged or patched puncture fail?
A correctly performed repair in the repairable (central tread) area is generally acceptable; sidewall repairs and external-only plugs in the wrong area are not.

How much is a re-inspection?
If you return to the same AIS within the allowed period, the re-check of the failed items is typically free. Confirm with your station.

Do my tyres need to match the door placard exactly?
They must meet the placard’s size and minimum load/speed ratings. Equivalent legal sizes are fine; under-rated or non-compliant sizes are not.

Suggested schema: Article + FAQPage. General information only — confirm current requirements with Transport for NSW or your Authorised Inspection Station. External references: NSW Government — Roadworthiness and the Transport for NSW Light Vehicle Safety Check Standards.