Failure category
Tyres & wheels
Tread depth, sidewall damage, tyres with cords showing, mismatched ratings. Tyres are the second-largest UK MOT failure block after lights.
Defect codes
64
Total fails
2,032,490
Defect codes in this category, ranked.
Sorted by total cars affected last year. Click any row for the full defect description plus the models most at risk.
- 01 1,131,791
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
1484 models affected
- 02 426,235
A tyre cords visible or damaged
1173 models affected
- 03 340,943
A tyre seriously damaged
1276 models affected
- 04 40,718
A tyre seriously damaged
668 models affected
- 05 27,551
A tyre seriously damaged
410 models affected
- 06 12,880
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
272 models affected
- 07 8,582
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
64 models affected
- 08 8,277
A wheel bearing excessively rough
13 models affected
- 09 6,883
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
175 models affected
- 10 6,851
A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud
148 models affected
- 11 4,379
A wheel bearing with excessive play
20 models affected
- 12 4,213
Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel
68 models affected
- 13 3,949
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
221 models affected
- 14 3,406
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
199 models affected
- 15 1,725
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
96 models affected
- 16 676
A wheel bearing with excessive play
46 models affected
- 17 579
A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely which could cause sudden deflation of the tyre
43 models affected
- 18 444
Tyre obviously under inflated
70 models affected
- 19 415
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
48 models affected
- 20 269
A tyre cords visible or damaged
64 models affected
- 21 244
A wheel bearing excessively rough
22 models affected
- 22 172
Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes
36 models affected
- 23 154
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
11 models affected
- 24 138
A tyre not fitted in compliance with the manufacturers sidewall instruction
32 models affected
- 25 135
A tyre load capacity or speed rating not in accordance with the minimum requirements
3 models affected
- 26 122
Braking effort inadequate at a wheel
3 models affected
- 27 119
A tyre not fitted in accordance with the direction of rotation marked on the side wall
11 models affected
- 28 72
A tyre load capacity load capacity insufficient for the presented axle weight
3 models affected
- 29 68
A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
11 models affected
- 30 61
A tyre fouling a part of the vehicle
8 models affected
- 31 48
A wheel bearing play so excessive it is likely to break up or directional control impaired
7 models affected
- 32 37
Braking effort not recording at a wheel
2 models affected
- 33 35
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
1 models affected
- 34 32
An unsuitable tyre fitted
3 models affected
- 35 26
On a motorcycle with two front or rear wheels, there is inadequate braking effort at a wheel
4 models affected
- 36 25
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
6 models affected
- 37 25
On a motorcycle with two front or rear wheels, there is no recorded brake effort at a wheel
4 models affected
- 38 22
A tyre with a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure, including any lifting of the tread rubber
4 models affected
- 39 20
A tyre cords exposed or damaged
5 models affected
- 40 20
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
1 models affected
- 41 19
Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel
3 models affected
- 42 15
A wheel bearing so rough it is likely to overheat or break up
4 models affected
- 43 14
A wheel excessively corroded, damaged or distorted
4 models affected
- 44 14
Abnormal lag in brake operation on a wheel
3 models affected
- 45 13
A tyre with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
3 models affected
- 46 11
A brake on any wheel grabbing severely
2 models affected
- 47 8
A tyre incorrectly seated on the wheel rim
2 models affected
- 48 6
A brake on any wheel grabbing severely
3 models affected
- 49 5
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
1 models affected
- 50 5
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
3 models affected
- 51 5
A tyre with a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure, including any lifting of the tread rubber
2 models affected
- 52 5
A wheel spindle locking device missing or ineffective
1 models affected
- 53 4
Braking effort inadequate at a wheel
1 models affected
- 54 3
Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes
1 models affected
- 55 3
Wheels of a solo motorcycle sufficiently misaligned to adversely affect the handling or steering
1 models affected
- 56 3
A loose wheel spindle or securing nut(s) or locking device missing or insecure
1 models affected
- 57 3
A brake on any wheel grabbing severely
1 models affected
- 58 3
Wheels of a solo motorcycle sufficiently misaligned to adversely affect the handling or steering
1 models affected
- 59 2
A wheel bearing play so excessive it is likely to break up or directional control impaired
1 models affected
- 60 2
A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud in the case of a single fixing, or more than one loose or missing in the case of multiple fixings.
1 models affected
- 61 2
A brake on any wheel grabbing severely
1 models affected
- 62 2
An unsuitable tyre fitted
1 models affected
- 63 1
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 50% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on a steered axle
1 models affected
- 64 1
Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive to the extent that safe steering is affected
1 models affected
Brands most affected.
Total category-fails across each manufacturer's tested fleet. High-volume brands naturally lead — read alongside their model pass-rates.