Can you pass an MOT on a spacesaver?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi folks,

I have dropped a bk - MOT and service booked for tomorrow, I knew the tyres were low but having a quick look they were all between 2-3mm so wasn't worried. Been away and went out just now to check bulbs and things. 3 of the tyres are fine, but for some reason the rear near side is 3 in places but down to 1.2 in the odd place.

Obviously can't drive it on the road on that tyre, just wondering if I fitted the spacesaver it would pass the MOT? (Frankly I'd rather drive on a marginal tyre than fit a 20 year old space saver, but that's another matter...)

New set of boots booked for Friday but it doesn't help me tomorrow though...

[martin mrt]

Simple answer NO

Tyres must be the same size on the same axle

[Nick3point2]

martin mrt said:

Simple answer NO

Tyres must be the same size on the same axle

If I remember rightly, fitting a space saver to the other side makes it's pass! Need an MOT tester to confirm though.

[Mroad]

No it won't pass. Wheels and tyres on the same axle have to be the same size.

[PeteSBC]

So how can a car manufacturer supply something that will make a car an MOT fail if you use it?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

PeteSBC said:

So how can a car manufacturer supply something that will make a car an MOT fail if you use it?

MOT is an arbitrary test at a snapshot in time. Space saver is an emergency tool to be used only at lower speeds etc.

Ne're the twain shall meet.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

...similar to you can buy a car with no fuel in it, but you can't mot a car with no fuel in it

[N Dentressangle]

NiceCupOfTea said:

for some reason the rear near side is 3 in places but down to 1.2 in the odd place.

You might still be OK. You only need 1.6mm of tread depth across the central ¾ of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire outer circumference by law.

[PeteSBC]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

MOT is an arbitrary test at a snapshot in time. Space saver is an emergency tool to be used only at lower speeds etc.

Ne're the twain shall meet.

But surely if stopped by the police when using a space saver you would be prosecuted, on the same grounds that if you have front tinted windows you will be prosecuted because they would fail an MOT. Therefore it has nothing to do with snapshot in time, it is to do with the car being in a roadworthy state!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

PeteSBC said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

MOT is an arbitrary test at a snapshot in time. Space saver is an emergency tool to be used only at lower speeds etc.

Ne're the twain shall meet.

But surely if stopped by the police when using a space saver you would be prosecuted, on the same grounds that if you have front tinted windows you will be prosecuted because they would fail an MOT. Therefore it has nothing to do with snapshot in time, it is to do with the car being in a roadworthy state!

...don't call me Shirley

Spacesver is roadworthy, but doesn't meet the requirements for an mot (unless you have them on all axles I suppose )

You are trying to apply logic to something that doesn't have any

[NiceCupOfTea]

N Dentressangle said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

for some reason the rear near side is 3 in places but down to 1.2 in the odd place.

You might still be OK. You only need 1.6mm of tread depth across the central ¾ of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire outer circumference by law.

Hmmm. So if it fails, will they let me drive it away? MOT is good for another couple of weeks.

[N Dentressangle]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Hmmm. So if it fails, will they let me drive it away? MOT is good for another couple of weeks.

You could always put the spacesaver on and drive away if it fails!

[Perd Hapley]

Nick3point2 said:

If I remember rightly, fitting a space saver to the other side makes it's pass! Need an MOT tester to confirm though.

No, you won't pass even if you turn up on four brand new matching spacesavers.

4.1.A.1.b
Reason for Rejection: "special lightweight or space saving wheels and tyres fitted as road wheels"

[Jimmyarm]

I'm still looking for an answer to this question.

A car on the road must meet mot standards. Having a space saver fitted does not.

How is it legal ?

[mk2 24v]

theres a huge difference between MOT worthy, and roadworthy

and it seems the police and VOSA have different ways of reading the same rules

and as said above, space savers fitted is a fail MOT wise. its a spece saver for temporary emergency use only

[essayer]

Jimmyarm said:

I'm still looking for an answer to this question.

A car on the road must meet mot standards. Having a space saver fitted does not.

How is it legal ?

What law says a car on the road must meet MOT standards ?

[Jimmyarm]

essayer said:

What law says a car on the road must meet MOT standards ?

I'm quite happy to be proven wrong but isn't that the idea of the mot test and those standards define roadworthiness ?

[Astra Dan]

A bit like your insurance will state your car has to be roadworthy, nothing to do with MOT test status, so you can drive it to and from a test and /or repairs.

[paintman]

MOT fail for reason already given - specified as a fail (reason for rejection) in the tester's manual & nothing to do with size mismatch.

Space savers are intended to allow you to drive the vehicle to a place of repair/replacement of the defective tyre.

Some cars have a perfectly good full sized spare wheel well but manufacturers no doubt find it cheaper to put these silly little wheels in instead & some are even more cheapskate & just put in a couple of cans of tyre-weld (or their own equivalent)

[paintman]

OP have a look through this as your tyre might still pass - or just get an advisory - depending on where the low parts are.
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm look at the bit that says "4.1 Tyres (Tread Pattern, Breadth and Depth)"