MOT Fail - Rear Tyre

jarvo

Hi all,

Whilst we were on holiday last week the wife's car MOT expired, after calling the place i usually use they couldn't get me in until next week. As a last resort i turned to KwikFit (i know) as they had availability for today.

Whilst i was waiting for the car to be returned i overheard the manager saying that had failed all 3 cars tested before mine, 2 for tyres other for tyres & break pads.
To my surprise when my car returned it had failed on the rear tyres, one has cracks in the top tread (Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Offside Rear [5.2.3 (d) (ii)])
The other supposedly is misshapen (Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Nearside Rear (misshaped) [5.2.3 (d) (ii)])

I asked for proof, so the car was put back on the ramp and i was shown the wheel spinning. To my eyes it was perfectly round, no bulges, not misshapen but does have age related minor cracking but nothing to suggest a fail. The tester was unable to show me anything that was visible to the naked eye or clearly dangerous.
Obviously i wasn't happy with their findings and asked for a retest, the manager refused unless i replaced the tyres at a cost of £320, to which i refused.
I am happy to replace the tyres if they actually need it, but there is little evidence i can see.

I am thinking of reporting them to trading standards and appealing the MOT result.

SaverRate

You first port of call is taking it somewhere else for an MOT inspection.

If they dont fail it for the same reason, then report kwikfit. 

Car_54

And report them to DVSA, not Trading Standards.

facade

(Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Offside Rear [5.2.3 (d) (ii)])

Is not a fail. It is an advisory.

The other supposedly is misshapen (Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Nearside Rear (misshaped) [5.2.3 (d) (ii)])

A tear is a split in the sidewall caused by the internal fabric of the tyre failing and the rubber stretching and tearing. In extreme the tyre wall will be longer in that place and the tread will distort above it. (hence misshapen)*

I can't see a tear in the photo.

Is it on the inside, and they couldn't be bothered showing you?

Appeal the fail!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complain-about-an-mot

However the most pragmatic approach is to take it somewhere else where it should pass (if there isn't a tear on the inside), then appeal the failure and get your money back.

*The full failure criteria is

a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure, including any lifting of the tread rubber or with cords exposed or damaged

and is a dangerous fail.  The notes go on to explain that they mustn't fail it for the normal lumpy sidewalls caused by poor quality manufacturing, it has to be structural failure e.g. an egg in the sidewall caused by the wall going porous and air inflating the surface off the carcass.

MOT manual

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/5-axles-wheels-tyres-and-suspension#section-5-2-3

sevenhills

There should be numbers/letters on the tyres that indicate their age. You would be better to find their age, to rule that out, as a cause.

jarvo

Thank you all for the comments.

I have rebooked it into a more trusted garage that I normally use, only problem is its next Wednesday so almost a week without the car. I only used KwikFit as I thought it would sail through and it wouldn't require any work, but unfortunately they had other ideas!

The car is a 2018 Mazda CX-5, its only done 29,000 miles but the 2 front tyres were replaced last year after a puncture caused by a pot hole. The date on the tyre in question is 2718, so coming up to 5 years old and i was thinking of possibly replacing them before winter but there is still 4/5mm of tread on them.

I inspected the tyre when it was up on the ramp, there was zero damage, no bulges, no splits, just some minor age related cracking. I asked the tester several times what was the issue causing it to fail as i couldn't see anything remotely worthy of a fail and he spun the wheel a few times and just said he has "training that allows him to see inside the tyre".
No matter how many times i asked he couldnt show me any damage at all, he suggested the tyre was no longer round but couldnt prove it.

Im going to appeal the fail, the form is already filled in and ready to email, then I will report them to DVSA and take it from there.

Nobbie1967

jarvo said:

Thank you all for the comments.

I have rebooked it into a more trusted garage that I normally use, only problem is its next Wednesday so almost a week without the car. I only used KwikFit as I thought it would sail through and it wouldn't require any work, but unfortunately they had other ideas!

The car is a 2018 Mazda CX-5, its only done 29,000 miles but the 2 front tyres were replaced last year after a puncture caused by a pot hole. The date on the tyre in question is 2718, so coming up to 5 years old and i was thinking of possibly replacing them before winter but there is still 4/5mm of tread on them.

I inspected the tyre when it was up on the ramp, there was zero damage, no bulges, no splits, just some minor age related cracking. I asked the tester several times what was the issue causing it to fail as i couldn't see anything remotely worthy of a fail and he spun the wheel a few times and just said he has "training that allows him to see inside the tyre".
No matter how many times i asked he couldnt show me any damage at all, he suggested the tyre was no longer round but couldnt prove it.

Im going to appeal the fail, the form is already filled in and ready to email, then I will report them to DVSA and take it from there.

Good luck with the next MOT, let us know how it goes. Does sound like they were trying to pull a fast one.

Bigwheels1111

Get your new mot, if it passes call Kwikfit and complain. I would take pictures of the tyres just before the mot as proof nothing has been changed.
Keep complaining and you will get your money back.
If not bash them on every review site you can.
I use the main dealer as I have mot insurance.
I would use a local no pass no fee mot centre otherwise.

sevenhills

Tyres are considered to be ‘new’ and are suitable for retail sale for, up to 5 years from the original date of production with recommended storage guidance from tyre manufacturers.

Premature tyre ageing can affect safety and increase the risk of tyre failure. For this reason, Kwik Fit recommends drivers with tyres that are six years old or more to have them checked professionally in order to ensure they are still safe for use. Remember to check additional tyres such as spare wheels or those fitted to caravans and trailers as these tyres typically see less use and will be more susceptible to tyre ageing.

Car_54

sevenhills said:Remember to check additional tyres such as spare wheels or those fitted to caravans and trailers as these tyres typically see less use and will be more susceptible to tyre ageing.

And why, exactly, would less use make them “more susceptible to tyre ageing”, rather than the reverse?

Herzlos

Car_54 said:

sevenhills said:Remember to check additional tyres such as spare wheels or those fitted to caravans and trailers as these tyres typically see less use and will be more susceptible to tyre ageing.

And why, exactly, would less use make them “more susceptible to tyre ageing”, rather than the reverse?

Distortion due to all the weight being on a single point long term. On a car that moves, it'll (usually) be a different part of the tyre in contact with the ground every time you stop.  Wheels that aren't used tend not to have their pressures monitored and thus it the distortion can be made even worse.

Neither of which apply here - this is a pretty clear case of Kwik Fit making up a failure to sell a tyre. At least they didn't damage the tyre themselves before the test, but maybe that'd have been too obvious.