MOT is an essential test for car owners. According to the guidelines of this test, you have to submit your vehicle every year to an MOT centre for a complete checkup. After you reach the centre, the tester will check essential parts of your car for dangerous, major or minor faults. If your car has major faults or dangerous faults, it will fail the test. On the other hand, a car with minor faults or no faults will get a certificate that is valid for one year.
After one year, you have to submit your vehicle again on the same date to check your vehicle again. Success in the MOT Check Leicester will renew the certificate. On the other hand, you have to repair the mechanical faults if your car has failed the test.
During the test, the tester will check several components according to a pre-defined list. This list usually includes horn, windscreen wipers, seat & seatbelts, lights, tyres, exhaust, number plates, windows, doors, mirrors, bodywork etc.
If these components are working properly, you will get your car back with a certificate. Issues in these components, on the other hand, are responsible for the failure of the vehicle in the test.
In this blog, we will talk about MOT rules that include tyres in the components that are checked during the test.
Your tyres may face several issues during their lifespan. Therefore, DVSA has decided to include tyres in the list of vital components.
Fortunately, you can easily detect most of the issues in car tyres. Therefore, you can avoid the chances of failure because of mechanical issues in car tyres.
Let us have a look at the issues that are not good for the condition of your car tyres.
Legal tread depth
Tyres in passenger tyres come with a suitable tread pattern. These tyres have different patterns and different tread depths. Proper tread depth is essential for proper grip and traction on both dry and wet roads. Moreover, your tyres need to maintain proper tread depth because of the risk of hydroplaning. Tyres with low tread depth are more prone to this risky condition. Apart from these risks, tyres may face negative effects of heat, punctures and blowouts if they are running on roads with improper tread depth.
Because of these risks, the Government of the UK has set a minimum limit of tread depth. If you want to move legally on the roads of the UK, you have to keep the tyre tread depth above 1.6mm. You have to change your tyres earlier than reaching this limit to ensure road safety and driving comfort. You have to change bald tyres because of the risk of failure in the MOT test as well.
You can check the tread depth easily with the help of a 20p coin. Place a coin in the groove of your tyre. If you can see the upper side of the coin, your tyre is surely balding. Using a coin will give you a rough idea of tyre tread depth. If you want more precise results, you have to buy a tyre tread depth from the market to check the tread depth. Moreover, you can try to look at the treadwear bars. These bars are not easily visible if your tyres have proper tread depth. This is not a good sign if you can locate tread wear bars easily.
Four identical tyres
The tester is going to check your tyres for matching structure and features. You need four tyres from the same brand to avoid failure in the test. Tyres with different features may cause serious issues in handling and stability.
For example, if you buy winter tyres, you need four winter tyres for your vehicle. Do not mix two winter tyres with two summer tyres. This combination is risky for your passengers and other road users. Moreover, you will fail the MOT test because of this fault as well.
Sidewall damage
The tester has to make sure that the tyre sidewall has no signs of damage. One of the common examples of sidewall damage is the presence of cracks. Cracks take place on the sidewall when the rubber material becomes hard and brittle because of ageing. Moreover, factors like heat, friction, sunlight, UV rays, chemicals, and ozone also promote cracks on the sidewall. Cracks are not favourable for your tyres and they are not reparable. Therefore, you must change your tyres before the next MOT test.
You may also observe bulges on the sidewall as another damage sign. Bulges occur on the sidewall because of impact and they are also not repairable. So, changing the faulty tyre is a good idea before the test.
Deep punctures and cuts are also serious and not repairable signs. A deep cut or puncture may reach the internal structure of car tyres. Therefore, the tester will treat it as a serious mechanical fault.
Wrong air pressure
Incorrect air pressure is also a negative sign that may lead to a failed attempt in the MOT test. Check your user manual for proper specifications about air pressure in your rear and front tyres. After that, maintain the air pressure according to the guidelines.
So, these are some negative signs in your tyres that may affect the results of the MOT test. Check your tyres before the test and change them if they are facing any of these danger signs. Reach the center will properly inflated tyres.
