If a nail is found in your tyre during an MOT, it’s likely to result in a fail — especially if the puncture compromises tyre safety or structure. In this guide, we explain how MOT testers assess nail damage, when a repair is possible, and what to do if your tyre needs replacing before you can legally drive away.
The annual MOT affects vehicle owners across the UK, as they take their vehicles in for a scheduled test. This test checks in on all the safety features of the vehicle, to ensure that it is suitable for use on the road.
Some of the areas that are tested include lights, brakes, and of course the tyres.
But what happens if damage is found during the MOT, be it a faulty light or a nail in one of your tyres?
Understanding the Purpose of an MOT
The purpose of an MOT is to check the most critical safety components of a vehicle, to ensure that it is road safe.
Checking that all the lights are working, that the brakes are fully functioning, that the car’s system and body is secure, and that the tyres are within the legal limit with regards to structure and tread depth, are all important parts of the MOT.
As a driver or vehicle owner, it’s important that you take the time to check your own vehicle ahead of its formal MOT – or else risk the time and financial implications of a fail.
Coming out of an MOT, you will either receive a full Pass, a Pass with recommended work and changes, or a Fail. The amount of work that needs doing, and the overall cost of your annual MOT, will depend on what work needs to be done to your vehicle, and what work is recommended as part of an ongoing action plan.
What If An Issue is Flagged?
If an issue is flagged during the MOT, for example a nail being found embedded in one of the tyres, then the severity of the issue is classified by the tester and outlined in your MOT result.
Damage or an issue which requires immediate attention will result in a fail. This means that the vehicle cannot leave the facility until it has been repaired. And having a nail embedded in the tyre is a good example of something that will definitely cause your vehicle to fail its MOT.
This is because having a nail in the tyre is damage which increases the chance of your tyre suddenly blowing out on the road. A nail in the tyre may not release air immediately, but it is a form of puncture which irreparably impacts the stability of the tyre structure and the tyre’s longevity.
An MOT tester or inspector will not allow vehicles to be driven away without damage from a nail being repaired, or the whole tyre being replaced.
