Different brand tyres on same axle = illegal???

[All that jazz]

Just been stopped by W Yorks plod panda car in Leeds who was behind me at a set of lights. Said he'd stopped me because I have mismatched tyres on my rear axle and it's illegal. Is this true? News to me. I wasn't sure so didn't argue the point as it's generally best to keep schtum and plead innocence in such situations, but after giving me a thorough PNC check and the same for car he decided to "let you off this time, but make sure you get them changed". Any truth in this?

Before the holier-than-thou brigade jump in wagging their fingers about how I'm a danger to myself and everyone by having mismatched tyres, they are all legal with plenty of tread and were on the car when I bought it 3 weeks ago and it drives perfectly fine. That is all.

[Hammer67]

Utter bks. Perfectly legal as long as all the other tyre laws are met.

[Finlandia]

If that was so, then why have spare tyres at all? So it simply can't be.

[mx5tom]

Wouldn't that mean putting your spare tyre on would be illegal...? As far as I know, it's not illegal to mix tyres. It's not ideal, and depending on the circumstances 'could' be dangerous but I doubt it's illegal. How could the police even tell prior to pulling you over?!

[Nickyboy]

Complete bks, none of my tyres are the same brand.

Sure the sizes are the same? Not got a slightly different profile on by mistake?

[Mr E]

I am getting increasingly worried with authority figures of all types who simply appear to be making it up.

[Jasandjules]

Mr E said:

I am getting increasingly worried with authority figures of all types who simply appear to be making it up.

Yes it is a bit disconcerting. Are Police standards dropping?

[lbc]

I seem to remember that you cannot mix crossply and radial tyres, and for an MOT, both pairs on same axle must be same size and profile but not same manufacturer.

[All that jazz]

mx5tom said:

Wouldn't that mean putting your spare tyre on would be illegal...? As far as I know, it's not illegal to mix tyres. It's not ideal, and depending on the circumstances 'could' be dangerous but I doubt it's illegal. How could the police even tell prior to pulling you over?!

Their headlights were shining straight onto my rear tyres, so it's easy to see that the tread patterns are different. Try it yourself at night, pretty easy to see if you hang back a bit.

[All that jazz]

Thanks for all your replies guys.

Mr E said:

I am getting increasingly worried with authority figures of all types who simply appear to be making it up.

Well indeed. My opinion of the police was already lower than a low thing from past experiences with them, but making up non-existent offences like this one just takes them to a whole new level of lowness.

[Deva Link]

He was probably just looking for an argument.

[Ian Geary]

I would have hoped the umpteen weeks of police training and selection would weed out those who just want to use their police warrant to look for an argument.

Still, there's only so many kids who were picked on at school - they've got to find work somewhere.

[mrmr96]

lbc said:

I seem to remember that you cannot mix crossply and radial tyres, and for an MOT, both pairs on same axle must be same size and profile but not same manufacturer.

^ that, basically.

Utter tosh that different brands on an axle is illegal.

[Jagmanv12]

The Bib expect help and respect from the public when they come out with rubbish like this!!??

[GC8]

Id complain. Its only though complaining that wallys such as this will either be educated or drummed out (I hope).

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Ha ha, what utter rubbish! I'm seriously concerned about such a mis-informed BIB

Can mix different brands, tread depths, no problem.

The only thing you can't mix is Cross-Plys and Radials. That's all.


I'd go to the station and report this if I was you. Did you get her name / number or anything?

[New POD]

Some one told me it was illegal to have Larger tyres on the front than the back, after I recalled seeing a mini with MG Metro Turbo 13 inch wheels at the front and 10 inch mini-lites at the back.

[Cyberprog]

Yeah, he was probably confusing the cross-ply/radial thing.

That said, it's generally best for the car that the tyres on each axle are matched, and this is easiest when they're the same make/model with a similar wear pattern.

[Deva Link]

Cyberprog said:

Yeah, he was probably confusing the cross-ply/radial thing.

Cross ply tyres haven't been in general use for years.

[db]

Jasandjules said:

Mr E said:

I am getting increasingly worried with authority figures of all types who simply appear to be making it up.

Yes it is a bit disconcerting. Are Police standards dropping?

I was randomly stopped recently and had to laugh at the bib when he got really excited that I'd not renewed my paper license. He was most insistent that I had to do it every so often, but didn't have a clue about how often. It too long to convince him that he was wrong and confused with plastic licenses; very worrying for someone who believes he has the authority to randomly stop vehicles to check them.
Plod fail