Car went to garage this morning for end of warranty inspection and first MOT. Just before taking it in, had a puncture and put the spacesaver on. Told receptionist at garage that there is a spacesaver on and the punctured wheel is in boot.  Car failed MOT on - tyres, as one tyre different width (the spacesaver)! Now I reckon this is a bit pedantic and if it was going to fail on this why on earth didn't service reception tell me that so I could have delayed MOT.  Round trip each time to garage is 70 miles! If only I had put my 4 winter wheels on instead of the spacesaver!

 

Next point - say my punctured tyre was not repairable (it was as the damage was dead centre of the tread), and I needed a new tyre.  The punctured one has over 5mm of tread on it. Handbook says replace both tyres on the axle, so do both tyres with bags of tread get dumped? And on some 4x4's, some manufacturers require all 4 tyres replaced even if there is loads of tread on the remaining tyres. 

 

Next point - Handbook says put new tyres on front, yet most authorities reckon they go on the back whether front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or 4x4. Which is it?

When my Yeti had a puncture, Leaseplan only replaced the one tyre, so new was on 8 mm on one side and the old one on the other side was on 4 mm, did no harm apart from wearing the new one out a bit quicker, it caught the older tyre up.

 

 As for your MOT man, he is an ass, he could have used discretion, interesting though, if your car fails an MOT with a skinny tyre, how does this make it legal to drive on said skinny tyre on the public highway should the need occur.

Wow, what an arsehole.

 

I once took a previous car to be MOTed and it had a problem with a door, I mentioned it and he said don't bother, they'd have to fail it so go sort it out first.

 

James, they're not legal for everyday use, only as for emergency use to get to a garage.

Proves "Service Reception" at a larger garage know.......zero?  I have known exceptions though.   But one reason why I prefer to take my MOTs to a one-man operation 3 miles away.  At least you get to talk to the business owner, booker, receptionist and tester - all at the same time!

 

Worthwhile point about not taking a car in for an MOT with a spacesaver on though!

 

RE: "Most authorities" these days say "put new tyres on rear" - because it is deemed that way is likely to give you best grip on the back and so lead to understeer with less risk of oversteer. Given the same "authorities" seem to think that way is safer?  They believe that the vast majority of drivers don't have a clue how to deal with oversteer, so think their recommendation is safer.

1) I believe these are purely tyre fitting shop guidelines, coming from sources with no "authority" whatsoever? (Until I'm proven otherwise?)

2) Understeer in my experience can be just as dangerous.

3) I personally prefer to have the best tyres on the font, particularly on a FWD vehicle (but also on my RWD cars), mainly so I can rely on the better directional stability and turn-in in the wet. Also during straight line braking the fronts clear a dry line for the rears, so less risk of aquaplaning with the greater tread depth on the front in that situation.

4) Several MOT testers, and tyre fitters when quizzed, have confirmed points 1 to 3 from their own "unofficial" experience.

Hence to the OP - I'd go with your handbook's recommendation.  At the end of the day - it's your life and your choice - not "most authorities"!

Edited 21 October, 201312 yr by FlintstoneR1