Tries the empty streets (5)
I believe the answer is:
tests
'tries' is the definition.
(I know this)
'the empty streets' is the wordplay.
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'streets' becomes 'sts' (st is an abbreviation for street).
'the' with its middle removed is 'te'.
'te'+'sts'='TESTS'
(Other definitions for tests that I've seen before include "Trials to see if something works" , "International cricket matches" , "Trials, exams" , "Examinations, trials" , "Trials for cricketers" .)