October is Tyre Safety Month - a time when retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and independent non-profit organisations are united in the task of trying to raise as much awareness as possible on a very important issue.

There are of course many good reasons behind checking tyres on a regular basis, from the safety aspects to the money saving qualities. One reason however, seems to be missed out quite often. That is the significance of having safe and legal tyres for an MOT test.

If a motorist fails to keep a regular eye on the condition of their tyres, they are running the risk of failing an MOT. One of the most important checks carried out - by law - during an MOT is on tyres.

To pass, tyres need to have a legal tread depth – in the UK the current requirements are at least 1.6mm across 75% of the tyre. They also need to be in good shape, i.e. no bulges or gouges on the sidewall or the tread.

MOT Test Statistics for 2007

Description Figures from 2007

Total MOT’s carried out: 25,324,224
Total MOT Passes: 16,441,292
Total MOT Failures: 8,882,932
Percentage Failure rate: 35.08%
Due To Tyres: 3,187,124
Percentage Of Failure On Tyres: 35.88%

When looking at the above 2007 MOT statistics, it is plain to see that of the 8,882,932 failures, over a third were due to the vehicle’s tyres.

Via EPR Network
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