It’s no surprise that tyres are an important part of any vehicle, and ensuring they are in good condition is essential for the safety of your car. It’s easy to forget about checking them, so we have put together a guide to help you understand how to contribute to your car's MOT Luton test and what issues may cause a failure.

What Are The Main Reasons For Tyre Failures During MOT Tests?

The most common reasons for MOT tyre failures include:

• Underinflated or overinflated tyres.
• Visible damage, such as bulges, cuts or tears in the side walls or tread area of the tyre.
• A tyre that has too low a tread depth.
• Worn edges on the tyres.
• Insecure wheel trims.
• Missing or incorrect valve caps.

The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres is 1.6mm, across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around its entire circumference. It’s important to regularly check the tread depth of your tyres, as if it falls below this legal limit then you won’t pass the MOT test.

What Else Can Affect Tyre Performance?

Apart from tread depth, other factors can influence tyre performance.

• Age of the tyres.
• Uneven wear and tear.
• Misalignment of the wheels.
• Poorly fitted or balanced tyres.

It is important to take into account these factors when you’re checking your tyres, as they can all contribute to MOT failures if not addressed.

What Is The Best Way To Care For My Tyres?

Taking care of your tyres is essential to keeping them in top condition and passing the MOT test with flying colours. Here are some tips to help you keep your tyres in good shape:

• Ensure that your tyres are correctly inflated to the pressure recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Check your tyres regularly for any signs of wear and tear, damage or uneven wear.
• Have the wheels aligned at least once a year by an authorized garage.
• Invest in winter tyres if you live in a region where temperatures often drop below 7°C as they will provide better grip in the colder months.
• Have your tyres rotated every 10,000 miles or once a year to ensure even wear and tear.

Replace your tyres when they have reached their recommended expiry date (normally between 4 and 6 years). Invest in a set of wheel balancing weights if you notice any vibration when driving. This will help to redistribute the weight of your tyres evenly, reducing vibrations and extending their life. 

By following these simple tips you can ensure that your tyres are in the best condition possible, helping you to pass the MOT test with ease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tyre safety is an important consideration when it comes to passing your MOT test. Taking care of your tyres and ensuring that they are in good condition will help you to pass the test with ease. It’s important to check your tyres regularly for signs of wear and tear, ensure they are correctly inflated, have them rotated and aligned regularly, invest in winter tyres if necessary and replace them when they reach their expiry date. With these steps you can keep your tyres in top condition and pass the MOT Luton test with flying colours.