Failed MOT on front tyres...but what do you think?

[ph001]

Just back from MOT station where the Z flew through with no advisories. Apart from the front tyres that is! He failed it saying inside edge was worn.

I know the Z runs quite a lot of negative camber so you always get accelerated wear on the inside edge but the rules are very clear:

At least 1.6mm across the centre 75% of the tyre.

Now, I clearly have >1.6mm on all 3 channels where the wear indicators are but the guy still maintained it was a fail as it was bald on inside edge.

To my mind this is just the tread pattern that is worn which is not a measurable part of the tyre.

Now I know the tyres do need replacing very soon (I had planned on changing them end of this month), but the point is here, was he right to fail it?

 

[mr wilks]

Sorry but i think in this case he was right there is more to a tyre failing MOT than simply tread depth .

"Uneven or abnormal tyre wear is a common MOT failure. The tread on your tyres are grooves created in the rubber, designed to remove water from the contact between the tyre and the road. If these grooves have worn down abnormally or unevenly, the tyre traction (grip) can be compromised – meaning they may have worn down to a level that is deemed as dangerous and in some cases, illegal. Without sufficient grip, your braking, accelerating and steering can all be affected, and the safety and reliability of the tyres will be affected.

That’s why there is a legal minimum tyre tread depth set out by UK law, which is 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three quarters of the tyre. If your tyres do not abide by this depth, they will be classed as illegal, which will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT test."

Its new tyre time & alignment time , that's about as bad a uneven wear as ive ever seen certainly on any of the E85/E86 ive ever bought & a good number arrived with very tired tyres , i'm surprised you can't feel that through the wheel :?

 

[BTZ461]

It is of no matter what the readers may think. The decision has been made, and with respect, quite foolish to challenge
it.
"Bald as a badgers bottom" is the term that springs to mind here. And we would not run tyres as worn as that on any of our cars :roll:

 

[ph001]

Thanks for the inputs guys, I have ordered new tyres anyway. It’s just I can’t use the car in the meantime which is rather inconvenient.

If the exact rules are to be followed I thought I might be able to argue it’s not actually a fail, but as you say, probably not worth the effort.

The car is then going over to Track Torque near York to get the alignment redone with a little less negative camber. Car handles like a dream but this tyre wear is the downside.

 

[brillomaster]

Was it classed as a dangerous defect, or just a major? If its the latter, you can still technically drive as long as the current mot hasnt expired.

 

[Nictrix]

Was it classed as a dangerous defect, or just a major? If its the latter, you can still technically drive as long as the current mot hasnt expired.

Are you sure about this?
I thought nowadays if the vehicle failed its MOT even if it had weeks left on the old MOT the new one took over as it would show on the system as failing.

 

[enuff_zed]

Was it classed as a dangerous defect, or just a major? If its the latter, you can still technically drive as long as the current mot hasnt expired.

Are you sure about this?
I thought nowadays if the vehicle failed its MOT even if it had weeks left on the old MOT the new one took over as it would show on the system as failing.

I too, think that is the case.
Once you've had a new MOT, the old one is negated, even if it's only a week old!

 

[brillomaster]

https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/after-the-test

No, you can still drive away from a fail, as long as there is some time left on the existing mot certificate, and the fails werent listed as 'dangerous - repair immediately' ie the car is still roadworthy. Depends how the mot tester recorded the fail.

Thats why i always mot cars as early as i can within the one month window, gives me time to assess my options should a fail occur rather than being forced to get it repaired straight away.

 

[enuff_zed]

https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/after-the-test

No, you can still drive away from a fail, as long as there is some time left on the existing mot certificate, and the fails werent listed as 'dangerous - repair immediately' ie the car is still roadworthy. Depends how the mot tester recorded the fail.

Thats why i always mot cars as early as i can within the one month window, gives me time to assess my options should a fail occur rather than being forced to get it repaired straight away.

Ah yes, I agree you can drive it away to enable you to get it fixed etc.
I may have misread your statement? I thought you were implying you could carry on using it as though nothing had happened?
My understanding is, yes you can take it away, but only to get it fixed.
There used to be a thing where you could take it away, repair it and then take it back within 7 days for a retest and not have to pay a second fee. Does that still happen?

 

[E86]

Tyres are covered in section 5.2.3 of the MOT manual.

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’).

Diagram 1. Primary and secondary grooves in tyre tread pattern

 

[ph001]

Tyres are covered in section 5.2.3 of the MOT manual.

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’).

Diagram 1. Primary and secondary grooves in tyre tread pattern

In which case it should have been a pass!

 

[buzyg]

Tyres are covered in section 5.2.3 of the MOT manual.

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’).

Diagram 1. Primary and secondary grooves in tyre tread pattern

In which case it should have been a pass!

I see the diagram I read the words and I follow your logic. No way I would feel safe driving on that tyre though. The inside edge is clearly where the road contact patch is and that bit is bald. Bald on a sports car in winter? No thank you Mam. Park it up until you have an opportunity to fit those new tyres and get the alignment done.

 

[ph001]

I see the diagram I read the words and I follow your logic. No way I would feel safe driving on that tyre though. The inside edge is clearly where the road contact patch is and that bit is bald. Bald on a sports car in winter? No thank you Mam. Park it up until you have an opportunity to fit those new tyres and get the alignment done.

New tyres been delivered today. I just like being pedantic! It's the engineer in me.

 

[Smartbear]

I see the diagram I read the words and I follow your logic. No way I would feel safe driving on that tyre though. The inside edge is clearly where the road contact patch is and that bit is bald. Bald on a sports car in winter? No thank you Mam. Park it up until you have an opportunity to fit those new tyres and get the alignment done.

New tyres been delivered today. I just like being pedantic! It's the engineer in me.

It’s probably not the positive camber but the toe that’s caused the excessive wear :?
Rob

 

[Rafes Dad]

I see the diagram I read the words and I follow your logic. No way I would feel safe driving on that tyre though. The inside edge is clearly where the road contact patch is and that bit is bald. Bald on a sports car in winter? No thank you Mam. Park it up until you have an opportunity to fit those new tyres and get the alignment done.

New tyres been delivered today. I just like being pedantic! It's the engineer in me.

The engineer in you should know to go straight to the nearest alignment/tracking garage and get yourself straightened up to maximise the life in the new ones.

 

[ph001]

Which is exactly why I said it was going over to Track Torque near York to have the alignment adjusted! Or did you not read that bit.

 

[Jembo]

Tyres are covered in section 5.2.3 of the MOT manual.

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’).

Diagram 1. Primary and secondary grooves in tyre tread pattern

In which case it should have been a pass!

This is why IMO it failed as per the provided link - amongst many others, the tread additionally needs to be visible across the whole surface

The tread pattern must be visible over the whole tread area (see diagram 2), and have a depth of at least 1.0mm throughout a single band of at least three-quarters over any section of the breadth of tread round the entire outer circumference of the tyre

If you consider the main contact point on a turn is on a bald part, that’d be like driving slicks in the wet - better safe than an expensive sorry

 

[Tyreman]

Two issues here, I do realise that I'm late to the party here though and it's irrelevant but here goes.

Do the tyres need replacing yes 100% without a shadow of doubt, most organisations recommend replacement at 3mm for good reason.

Should they have failed MOT, well based on the photograph no they should not "At least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference" is the wording and the current tyre law in the UK.

There is no requirement for the tread outside of the central 3/4 as outside of the main water evacuation channels some features of the tyre will be designed to wear out quicker than the main tread pattern.

So the OP was correct in my opinion and the tyres aren't technically illegal, he has however done the correct thing by replacing them

 

[Ewazix]

Two issues here, I do realise that I'm late to the party here though and it's irrelevant but here goes.

Do the tyres need replacing yes 100% without a shadow of doubt, most organisations recommend replacement at 3mm for good reason.

Should they have failed MOT, well based on the photograph no they should not "At least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference" is the wording and the current tyre law in the UK.

There is no requirement for the tread outside of the central 3/4 as outside of the main water evacuation channels some features of the tyre will be designed to wear out quicker than the main tread pattern.

So the OP was correct in my opinion and the tyres aren't technically illegal, he has however done the correct thing by replacing them

As you say the rule is min 1.6mm continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference, therefore you cannot have more than 1/8 of the width below 1.6mm ether side of the centre 3/4. Looking at the picture the bald band is clearly more that 1/8 (12%) of the tyre width so must be illegal.

Sorry the pedant in me wouldn't let it pass :wink:

 

[Tyreman]

Two issues here, I do realise that I'm late to the party here though and it's irrelevant but here goes.

Do the tyres need replacing yes 100% without a shadow of doubt, most organisations recommend replacement at 3mm for good reason.

Should they have failed MOT, well based on the photograph no they should not "At least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference" is the wording and the current tyre law in the UK.

There is no requirement for the tread outside of the central 3/4 as outside of the main water evacuation channels some features of the tyre will be designed to wear out quicker than the main tread pattern.

So the OP was correct in my opinion and the tyres aren't technically illegal, he has however done the correct thing by replacing them

As you say the rule is min 1.6mm continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference, therefore you cannot have more than 1/8 of the width below 1.6mm ether side of the centre 3/4. Looking at the picture the bald band is clearly more that 1/8 (12%) of the tyre width so must be illegal.

Sorry the pedant in me wouldn't let it pass :wink:

You can be as pedantic as you wish sir but are ultimately wrong, the tread area which you refer to is outside of the water evacuation channels and has features designed to wear out prior to the main tread pattern.

Basically the sipes outside of the main tread pattern don't matter as per the law........the biggest issue is that most people including MOT testers haven't got a clue what they're talking about.

It's purely down to different peoples interpretation of a set of rules in a manual. :wink: