Legalities of Space Saver wheels.
Discussion
Surely as long as its the original factory space saver then your fine if for example the tyre goes on the way to the test centre.
Despite the guideline that tyres should be the same size on each angle I'd guess that the space saver gets away with it as its a manufacturer reccomended spare and not designed for permanent use, just to hobble you along to the nearest tyre centre.
Despite the guideline that tyres should be the same size on each angle I'd guess that the space saver gets away with it as its a manufacturer reccomended spare and not designed for permanent use, just to hobble you along to the nearest tyre centre.
"Would a car fail an MOT with a Space Saver wheel on?"
Yes. If you present a car with a space saver fitted you it fail.
"My understanding is that a car cannot mix tyres of different sizes on one axle."
Correct
"If so then how is a space saver a legal tyre to drive on?"
Perhaps temporary/emergency use only clause?
Yes. If you present a car with a space saver fitted you it fail.
"My understanding is that a car cannot mix tyres of different sizes on one axle."
Correct
"If so then how is a space saver a legal tyre to drive on?"
Perhaps temporary/emergency use only clause?
It's explicitly mentioned as a failure reason in the MoT testers manual. For the journey there, fine, or to a tyre place. I guess as they are designed for speed limited use, providing you are making your way to a tyre repair, the police will accept it as a valid reason for use.
It should fail the MOT though:
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm
Reason for rejection:
b. Special lightweight or space saving wheels and tyres fitted as road wheels
You can drive a vehicle with all sorts of defects after an MOT - and run the risk for being stopped and given a rectification notice (or whatever they are called).
It should fail the MOT though:
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm
Reason for rejection:
b. Special lightweight or space saving wheels and tyres fitted as road wheels
You can drive a vehicle with all sorts of defects after an MOT - and run the risk for being stopped and given a rectification notice (or whatever they are called).
Cheers for replies.
So it won't pass an MOT but is legal for use on the road (albeit temporarily).
However just say, You have a puncture, you put the Space Saver on and drive to the Tyre place to get tyre done, and you have an accident.
Can the car be proven to be un-roadworthy as it has a defective tyre on it, and therefore would you be liable for prosecution?
So it won't pass an MOT but is legal for use on the road (albeit temporarily).
However just say, You have a puncture, you put the Space Saver on and drive to the Tyre place to get tyre done, and you have an accident.
Can the car be proven to be un-roadworthy as it has a defective tyre on it, and therefore would you be liable for prosecution?
tim2100 said:
Cheers for replies.
So it won't pass an MOT but is legal for use on the road (albeit temporarily).
However just say, You have a puncture, you put the Space Saver on and drive to the Tyre place to get tyre done, and you have an accident.
Can the car be proven to be un-roadworthy as it has a defective tyre on it, and therefore would you be liable for prosecution?
Not if you were within the rated limits of the tyre, and were on the way to have a defect repaired, as I understand it. If you have been trundling about for 6 months on it you might struggle to convince...So it won't pass an MOT but is legal for use on the road (albeit temporarily).
However just say, You have a puncture, you put the Space Saver on and drive to the Tyre place to get tyre done, and you have an accident.
Can the car be proven to be un-roadworthy as it has a defective tyre on it, and therefore would you be liable for prosecution?
Maximum Bobs said:
daz3210 said:
Is it not similar to if your exhaust falls off? Are you not allowed to complete the journey, but that is about all?
That's pretty much how I understand it. You're ok to finish your journey or go to a place for repair but after that it becomes a bit of a grey area. You can't use a vehicle on the road which is unroadworthy.
The situation I always wonder about it what are you supposed to do if you have a car that needs stripping down to change a bulb, or has HIDs?
Deva Link said:
Maximum Bobs said:
daz3210 said:
Is it not similar to if your exhaust falls off? Are you not allowed to complete the journey, but that is about all?
That's pretty much how I understand it. You're ok to finish your journey or go to a place for repair but after that it becomes a bit of a grey area. You can't use a vehicle on the road which is unroadworthy.
Deva Link said:
Do you guys come from the planet of making up your own versions of the traffic laws?
You can't use a vehicle on the road which is unroadworthy.
The situation I always wonder about it what are you supposed to do if you have a car that needs stripping down to change a bulb, or has HIDs?
Does putting a spacesaver tyre on make the car unroadworthy?You can't use a vehicle on the road which is unroadworthy.
The situation I always wonder about it what are you supposed to do if you have a car that needs stripping down to change a bulb, or has HIDs?
As above it won't pass an MOT therefore its unroadworthy.
tim2100 said:
Does putting a spacesaver tyre on make the car unroadworthy?
As above it won't pass an MOT therefore its unroadworthy.
There's provision for space-savers within the law.As above it won't pass an MOT therefore its unroadworthy.
I'm not going to go there with the MOT / unroadworthy discussion! The two things are not completely in alignment.
Deva Link said:
tim2100 said:
Does putting a spacesaver tyre on make the car unroadworthy?
As above it won't pass an MOT therefore its unroadworthy.
There's provision for space-savers within the law.As above it won't pass an MOT therefore its unroadworthy.
I'm not going to go there with the MOT / unroadworthy discussion! The two things are not completely in alignment.
The "Construction and Use Regulations" (and other Regulations and Acts, all of which are enshrined in UK Law) dictate the standards a motor vehicle has to meet to be "legal" to use on UK roads.
The "MoT Regulations" (I am sure they have a proper name, but you get the idea
) dictate the minimum standards a motor vehicle has to meet to pass its MoT, are fairly minimal and can sometimes be at odds with the Regulations and Acts mentioned at the start of this paragraph (this is the misalignment Deva Link refers to 
).These "Construction and Use Regulations" and other Acts (but NOT the "MoT Regulations"!) are what the nice policeperson will refer to when (s)he sees a motor vehicle being driven on a spacesaver tyre on a UK road - if the driver of that motor vehicle can convince the policeperson that their use of the spacesaver is legitimate then
no problem.Clearly there is a disparity here with regard to the use of a spacesaver tyre on a motor vehicle presented for MoT which will incur a FAIL, yet the "emergency use" of a spacesaver tyre is legal on UK roads - is driving to an MoT on a spacesaver tyre an emergency?
I am sure the regulars will put me right on the names of the different Regs/Acts/Laws involved - examples used are for illustrative purposes only, and some settling of the contents may have occured during transit
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