How urgent is this?

Rusty190

I know nothing about cars - other than how to drive one.
My car has returned today from it's annual service and MOT.
It was received by a friend as I was unavailable at drop off time.
Friend reported "all good - nothing needed", but, MOT certificate states in the monitor/advisories bit:
"Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge offside front (Tyre is devoid of tread on inner edge but no ply or cords are exposed at present)".
I can't get hold of the mechanic at the moment, but presumably this means I need a new driver's side tyre replacement? How urgent is this? - it sounds extremely urgent to me, and, is it ok to just replace 1 tyre or should both front tyres be replaced?
Car is 11 years old.
Thank you.

born_again

Get a new pair on the front. ASAP.
Would also be worthwhile getting alignment checked given no tread on the inside...

A  note for the future. keep a check on tread depth over all the tyre.

FrugaiMacDugal

If it was 'extremely urgent' doubt it would pass MOT.

Do you have a spare wheel, you could swap it for 'bad tyre' and use it as a spare.

Rusty190

FrugaiMacDugal said:

If it was 'extremely urgent' doubt it would pass MOT.

Do you have a spare wheel, you could swap it for 'bad tyre' and use it as a spare.

I did wonder myself how it had passed it's MOT if it is wearing a tyre "devoid of tread" anywhere.
I do have a spare wheel but I'd prefer no dodgy treads on any wheels of the car for my peace of mind.

On-the-coast

These are advisories.  Not test failures. 

The mot tester deemed them a pass but is warning you that they are nearing the end of their life - maybe a few thousand miles life left. 

The more important question is why they are wearing unevenly.  Normally a tracking / alignment issue and/or incorrect tyre pressures. 

Brie

I've always felt it better to get tires in pairs - so 2 for the front being replaced.  But maybe check if the back are wearing as well??  Yes 4 tires cost more than 2 but if you're likely to get a similar note on the next MOT about the back you might want to them all in one go.  

Maybe not drive at speed on wet roads til things are sorted?????

eskbanker

Rusty190 said:

FrugaiMacDugal said:

If it was 'extremely urgent' doubt it would pass MOT.

I did wonder myself how it had passed it's MOT if it is wearing a tyre "devoid of tread" anywhere.

The primary grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep within the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre (see diagram 1).

Either side of the central three-quarters of the tyre can be devoid of tread (‘bald’).

Diagram 1. Primary and secondary grooves in tyre tread pattern

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

facade

You are allowed to have the tread worn off on the edges, as independent suspension systems are poorly/cheaply engineered and the camber change with body roll when cornering knocks the tread off the outside edge, plus tyres are manufactured with less tread depth at the edges anyway, so tyres would be scrapped prematurely adding to our environmental disasters.

Beam axles wear the tyres flat across unless there is an alignment problem.

Just start saving up for a couple of tyres, and keep an eye on the ones fitted.

(I'd just stick them on the back, but I live life on the edge....)

Rusty190

Thank you all - much appreciated.
The diagram posted by eskbanker was particularly useful.
I'm blaming the multitude of potholes we have round these parts, most of which cannot be avoided. 

Bigphil1474

You can't blame potholes for a tyre being devoid of tread on the inner edge - they are worn, not impact damaged.

If your car has 5 tyres and 4 are good, and one of those 5 only just made it through the MOT, then you put that one as a spare. My spare is the brand new tyre that came with the car in 2018. It is highly unlikely you'll ever need to use it. 

If the 2 rear tyres are evenly worn, leave them and put the spare on the front and replace the other front if needed or if they are now both similarly worn, then leave as is. You may need to buy 1, 2, 3, or 4 tyres depending on what you've got now. You need a simple depth tester that cost a few £ and remind yourself to check your tyres regularly (once a month, or a bit more frequent as they get older).

If your car only has 4 tyres, then you need to look at the remaining 3 and see what's best replacement wise. Look and see if any local schools or colleges do night classes on car maintenance.

A lot of places will do deals on 2 or 4 tyres so worth considering . I usually use Black Circle tyres - order online, get delivered to local garage, they fit. I will sometimes use Kwik Fit, they are fine for replacing a tyre if you price up online.

eskbanker

Bigphil1474 said:

You can't blame potholes for a tyre being devoid of tread on the inner edge - they are worn, not impact damaged.

I was going to say the same, but then realised that OP is blaming the potholes for the wheels being out of alignment and causing the tyres to wear unevenly....