Perished tyres can be a cause for concern during your MOT — but not every issue automatically results in a fail. In this guide, we explain the difference between an MOT advisory and a fail notice when it comes to tyre condition, how to interpret advisory notes, and what action to take to keep your car safe and road-legal.
When your car goes in for its annual MOT, there are several areas that it can very quickly fail on. One of those is the tyres – whether it’s an excessively worn tyre tread, cracking, or other signs of perishing.
Perished tyres refer to tyres that have become worn both around the tread surface and across the sidewall and main structure. Cracking, balding, bulges, and exposed thread are all clear signs that a tyre has perished – with this level of damage leading to a very quick MOT fail result.
But where does the line sit between an MOT advisory certificate, and an MOT that results in a fail?
What is an MOT Advisory?
An MOT advisory is a note that is added to a pass certificate, that outlines some of the features or components of the vehicle that show signs of damage and/or potential future failure.
They are in essence, minor faults that require attention. This could be because they are likely to put the driver and passengers at risk when driving, or because they will lead to a fail result on the next MOT 12 months later.
In contrast, an MOT fail means that the car or vehicle cannot be safely or legally driven until the identified issues are rectified.
What Tyre Issues Lead to an MOT Advisory?
If a tyre is starting to near its minimum tread depth but has not yet hit the 1.6mm depth which is considered the legal minimum, it may receive an advisory.
Tyre tread that measures at 2mm is considered to be ready for replacement, providing enough window to safely drive around while sourcing new tyres. This is the best time to get in touch with the team at Tyres.co.uk, so that we can help you to identify and fit replacement tyres before your old tyres are considered unsafe or illegal.
This underpins one of the biggest tips for any car owner approaching an MOT: take the time to assess your vehicle and ensure that the tyres and other components are in good condition ahead of the test.
Other issues that can lead to an MOT advisory include signs of wear across the tyre structure, and very minor cracks that don’t pose an issue yet but should be reviewed regularly.
