Please could someone set me straight. I thought the ruling was that a car does not have to have a spare wheel tyre to pass an MOT but if the car has a spare wheel/tyre, then it has to be a good one to pass the MOT.

Is that correct..?

I just phoned about my MOT and it failed due to a small bulge in one tyre. I asked if I could swap over the spare and remove the damaged one (and get it replaced at some time) and he told me he thought the car would have had a space saver (which it doesn't). He's happy to swap it over and if it's good he will pass the MOT for me.

It does tell me however that they never even looked at the spare.

Is this correct procedure? Ash
------------------------------------------------------
2022 SDV8 AB
2016 TDV8 VSE
2011 TDV8 VSE
2006 V8 Vogue
2002 2.5 Vogue

spares are not included in the mot test... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

The spare wheel used to irelevant.

We have on a number of occasions swapped a spare onto the car to get it to pass.

Think tyre repair kits etc used by some mfr in place of a tyre. I dont think a car can pass on a space saver as all the tyres have to be to the size dictated for the car. And a space saver wouldnt fit that bill. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

cool - thanks guys - I guess I was wrong.

No worries though as they swapped my spare for the tyre with the bulge and all passed.

either the headlight jest wash worked or they didn't test for it as it was not mentioned. SOmething to do with a loose heat shield at the back was the only advisory so I guess I'll have to look at that soon. Ash
------------------------------------------------------
2022 SDV8 AB
2016 TDV8 VSE
2011 TDV8 VSE
2006 V8 Vogue
2002 2.5 Vogue

Technically, if there is a spare tyre in the boot, it must be legal. However you don't have to have a spare to pass. 2006 FFRR 4.2 Supercharged Vogue SE
2007 Honda S2000
2008 Aprilia Tuono Factory

That was my point - they didn't even check the spare in the first place to find out if it was legal (or even a full size vs space saver) Ash
------------------------------------------------------
2022 SDV8 AB
2016 TDV8 VSE
2011 TDV8 VSE
2006 V8 Vogue
2002 2.5 Vogue

A lot of places will save the time and not bother to check for a spare in the car, specially if its a pain to get to and not easily seen when up in the air, IE if the leather handle on the boot floor is missing  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

I think there is a little confusion between legal requirement and MOT requirement.
I am good friends with an MOT tester from one of the busiest test stations in the North East.
I have never seen any of the testers at that station check the spare so as Stan also stated I am 99.9% the spare isn't included in the criteria of an MOT test.

Afaik the Tyres fitted must be the same size on each axle, not punctured, no sidewall damage, above 1.6mm of tread across 80% of the tread area and correctly inflated.

The law requires a spare tyre IF carried in your car to be roadworthy - regards tread depth and correctly inflated.
Some people are not aware that driving with an under-inflated tyre leaves you liable to the same Fixed Penalty Notice as if the tyre was bald e.g. currently 3 points and £60 fine.
There is no requirement to carry a spare tyre, however if it is carried it must be legal. 
Had it, loved it!
2007 Vogue SE TDV8
Stornoway Grey / Ivory
Climatic Seats, RSE, AFS, Deployable steps, iPod kit.

Spare wheel isn't a testable item for MOT.
If it's not listed as testable item in the Mot Inspection Manual it isn't testable and can't be failed as a result of condition.
This applies to all items.

My sports car has no spare - just a canister.

RS2000 will be along im sure but the idea is,

If the wheel is there it has to be as good as the normal tyre requirements.

If one isnt there then its just ignored and doesnt get a advisory or such like.

IE you dont HAVE to have a spare wheel but IF you have one in there then it needs to be legal if used.

Hence you'll find a space saver tyre has just enough tread to be legal and wont last more than about 50miles in use as its made from the cheapest rubber they can get away with and made as light as possible. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

there you go chaps, you can make your own minds up,

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

MOT:
You do not have to carry a spare wheel for the MOT.
A spare wheel is not required for the MOT.
If a spare wheel is present, it is not tested - it can be defective; for the MOT, it doesn't matter.
LAWFUL REQUIREMENT:
There is no legal requirement to carry a spare wheel.
A spare wheel is not required to comply with Construction & Use Regs.
If a spare wheel is carried - it can be defective, it doesn't matter.

I think knickers are getting twisted somewhat, here . . . .

Obviously, if you use USE your spare wheel, it has to be legal. In most European mainland countries, however, the spare wheel carried has to be legal.

Dave's info is correct (except the tyre has to above 1.6mm over the centre 75% of tread width) - in particular to the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices.
Furthermore, the defects outlined by Dave, could lead to the issue of a Prohibition Notice by either the police or VOSA.

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

A spare wheel regardless of its condition/size/tread etc etc is NOT part of the UK MOT Class IV (car) test

The ONLY wheels and tyres I test under Class IV MOT regs are the ones fitted to the vehicles axles

RS2000CUSTOM wrote:

The ONLY wheels and tyres I test under Class IV MOT regs are the ones fitted to the vehicles axles

And the steering wheel!