Clarification on if MOT failed and liklihood of tyre failure.

[Deleted User]

Hi,
In April 2019 I received advisories on all of my tyres stating slightly damaged/cracking or perishing. I have driven the car only 4500 miles since. I have checked the tread depth with a 20p coin and all tyres are satisfactory across their widths

Maybe a stupid question ........ is it possible that tyres could deteriorate in 4500 miles such that they may become a failure now? In my eye there is no obvious damsge/wear and tear.  I ask in conjunction with the query, should the MOT fail due to the tyres, am I permitted to drive it away and have replacement(s) fitted (I like the black circle service rather than the rude tyre fitter adjacent to the MOT station!). The current MOT expiry is 05.05.2020, but I know there is a 6 month extension going on right now.

Thanks in advance.

neilmcl

There may be an extension to your MOT date but you are still legally obliged to keep your car roadworthy.

marlot

Have you checked them carefully - especially deep in the tread and on the side walls?
Yes, they could be dangerous.  And if dangerous that could be highlighted on the MOT, so preventing you driving it away.
Why not visit a tyre outlet you trust and have them take a look?

Mutton_Geoff

Some MOT stations are more enthusiastic about this than others. What year were your tyres manufactured (four number week/year code on sidewall)?

facade

As you are worried, change them.

Some tyres e.g. Continental, show signs of perishing and surface cracking after a couple of years but are perfectly fine. It just depends on how badly they are cracked, and no-one can tell without examining them.

Tyres have a date code, 4 digits giving the week and year of manufacture, and are supposed to last only 6-7 years.

6 years is a long time when you are 18, but feels like 6 weeks when you are 50

Scrapit

dave_long said:

Hi,
In April 2019 I received advisories on all of my tyres stating slightly damaged/cracking or perishing. I have driven the car only 4500 miles since. I have checked the tread depth with a 20p coin and all tyres are satisfactory across their widths

Maybe a stupid question ........ is it possible that tyres could deteriorate in 4500 miles such that they may become a failure now? In my eye there is no obvious damsge/wear and tear.  I ask in conjunction with the query, should the MOT fail due to the tyres, am I permitted to drive it away and have replacement(s) fitted (I like the black circle service rather than the rude tyre fitter adjacent to the MOT station!). The current MOT expiry is 05.05.2020, but I know there is a 6 month extension going on right now.

Thanks in advance.

Mileage is not relevant in the case. Is there perishing and cracking on the tyre? Go look with a mk1 eyeball.

Mutton_Geoff

Scrapit said:

Mileage is not relevant in the case. Is there perishing and cracking on the tyre? Go look with a mk1 eyeball.

And further to my last post, it’s your tyres and brakes that save your life covering you for mistakes, lapses in concentration, poor road conditions etc.
Four bits of rubber each with a contact area on the road about the size of the palm of your hand. And you want to economise?

custardy

Honestly. You have driver for near a year on questionable tyres.
I never get folks skimping on safety for theirs and everyone else sake.

daveyjp

A tyre on a car which does 0 miles will crack after 5-6 years.  Rubber dries out and is affected by sunlight.  I changed mine last year for this reason, but the tread would have done another year to about 50,000 or so miles.  I didn't want a high speed blow out.

If yours are getting to this age and they are cracking they need doing.  It won't look good if you have a blow out, cause an accident and the police start looking at MOT history and tyre condition.

The_Rainmaker

You are most likely driving on dangerous tyres and as such you could be charged for a criminal offence if you crash and have an accident due to illegal tyres that you have been warned about.  How does 6 years for manslaughter sound if you kill someone?

At least go and get them looked at and stop fannying around.

A_Lert

If the MOT test finds a dangerous fault, it cannot be driven. If you want a different garage to fix the problem, you have to arrange for the car to be towed.

For major faults, its permitted to drive the vehicle until the existing MOT certificate retires. But a major fault is still something that puts you and other road users at risk!