Nearside rear tyre close to breakers on mot.

Si7123

Just had M. O. T come back with a advisor saying nearside rear tyre close to breakers. What does this mean thanks. 

Supersonos

Do you have a phone number for the garage that did your MOT?  Call them and ask.

Goudy

There are small humped markers within the grooves of the thread (breakers) that show when the tyre is getting to it's wear limit.
You can see them here.
https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/resources-and-support/how-to-videos/vehicle-maintenance/check-tyre-tread

AdrianC

Never heard the wear markers called "breakers" before.

But, of course, you've looked at the tyre yourself, right, OP? And you can see how bad they are or aren't for yourself...? But, of course, you keep an eye on them anyway and already knew...?

Goudy

The true "breaker" is the rubber part of the tyre that covers the belts that is under the tread, but if the tyre was down to this it would be a straight fail, though I've heard tyre fitters and the likes regard the wear markers as breakers.

MinuteNoodles

Your tyre is almost worn to the point of being illegal and needs replacing. If you bothered ever checking your tyres you'd have seen this. It shouldn't be coming as a surprise to any driver that their car gets an advisory or fail for worn tyres because if you'd been checking them once a week, fortnight or even month you'd have noticed.

Herzlos

You need a new tyre very soon.

molerat

The term may come from Continental who introduced "noise breakers" in the water channels which resemble the wear indicators - maybe they were dual purpose - but are there to break up the air flow in that channel and reduce resonance. The current noise breaker design seems to be horizontally placed across the channel rather than vertical in the base though.

ElephantBoy57

MinuteNoodles said:

Your tyre is almost worn to the point of being illegal and needs replacing.

Not quite true, some tyres have tread depth indicators at 2mm. It should say on the tyre sidewall how big the indicator is.

AdrianC

It's hard to argue that "close" to 2mm is anything but "almost worn to the point of being illegal".

Herzlos

AdrianC said:

It's hard to argue that "close" to 2mm is anything but "almost worn to the point of being illegal".

Exactly, 2mm is pretty close to 1.6mm, especially since it'll wear faster at lower depths.

The breaker is there quite specifically to allow you time to safely get the tyre changed.