MOT question

[Networkgeek]

Hi all

I'm after a bit of advice.

I am in the process of getting my Clio RS200 Cup back on the road, it's insured and taxed. However, it needs a x2 front tyres and an MOT.

My MOT is booked for next week and I want to have new tyres fitted before. I don't want it to fail for front tyres, when I can have this sorted beforehand.

Would I be okay to drive to the tyre garage the day before an MOT? The tyre garage is a 10 minute drive from home.

The alternative is for me to remove the front wheels, but with our terrible summer weather, I'd like to avoid being soaked

Thanks
NG

[brillomaster]

that sounds a lot like driving without a valid MOT, so no. and, if the tyres are so bad as to fail an MOT, then you'd be driving a car without an MOT, and with dangerous tyres on, so double no.

fortunately, the weather has perked up today, so whip them off and take them to the tyre place in the boot of your daily. job done.

[M.F.D]

No is the short answer here. Only allowed to drive to the MOT and it needs to be booked in. Tyre condition is another issue altogether. However, likelihood of it causing you any issues is slim. Your call at the end of the day.

[Cliftonite]

Unless your existing rears have lots of tread, you would probably be well advised to put your new tyres on the rear.

[hunt123]

Not sure of the situation where you are OP but the tyre shop local to me offer a mobile service (they'll fit tyres at your home etc).

[Networkgeek]

Thanks for all the advice chaps.

A mobile tyre fitter is a great shout. I haven't used them before, as like the rest of us, I'm sensitive about not having my alloys damaged. But I will have a look around to see if there any good mobile fitters near me.

[vikingaero]

Other alternative is to jack up the car and use the spare if any (or spare from other cars) and pop the wheels off to get the tyres fitted. More of a faff, but you'll be done in an hour or two.

[ScoobyChris]

Networkgeek said:

A mobile tyre fitter is a great shout. I haven't used them before, as like the rest of us, I'm sensitive about not having my alloys damaged. But I will have a look around to see if there any good mobile fitters near me.

I've been using mobile fitters (from a variety of companies!) for the last 20 years and I would argue they are better than the ones in the garages because they only seem to be experienced fitters, theydo everything in full view of you and there also isn't the rush to get through a line of waiting customers. The worst thing I think that happened was a Tyres-On-The-Drive chap keeping my metal dustcaps and replacing them with black plastic ones.

Chris

[Norton850]

National tyres mobile fitters have been very good in the few years i have used them.
I have several cars including a classic and i trust them more so than at their premises..

Make the guy a cuppa and let him crack on...

[Sheepshanks]

ScoobyChris said:

I've been using mobile fitters (from a variety of companies!) for the last 20 years and I would argue they are better than the ones in the garages because they only seem to be experienced fitters, theydo everything in full view of you and there also isn't the rush to get through a line of waiting customers. The worst thing I think that happened was a Tyres-On-The-Drive chap keeping my metal dustcaps and replacing them with black plastic ones.

Chris

I used Tyres on the Drive (they're owned by Halfords) last year for a set of tyres on daughter's car. The guy was mental in a rush. I forget how many jobs he had that day but I recall thinking it was a lot, and they were quite spread out too.

Norton850 said:

National tyres ...

Also owned by Halfords.

[Tyrell Corp]

Cliftonite said:

Unless your existing rears have lots of tread, you would probably be well advised to put your new tyres on the rear.

Good advice , reason being that (suprisingly) it is actually safer to have a blow out on the front wheels -so best tyres always go on the back for 4x4, FWD and RWD .

OP you are allowed to drive no mot to a pre arranged test, why not do the tyres on the way to the test centre?

(bending the rules slightly, but if you were stopped you have an appointment booked -car could conceivably have been parked off road locally but not at your address. I like to have it warmed up to full temperature before the emissions test)

Edited by Tyrell Corp on Thursday 10th August 12:25

[dunc_sx]

You can drive your car to a place of repair for MOT related repairs, you need to book an appointment though. If you've failed with a critical failure you can't though.

It has to be this way otherwise how would people get their car repaired when it fails an MOT? Not all MOT garages do repairs plus you my not want to get it repaired at the same place or repair it yourself.

Edited to add quote from West Yorkshire police website: "If your vehicle doesn't have a current MOT certificate, you can only drive it to or from a pre-arranged MOT appointment or to or from a pre-arranged repair appointment to have defects remedied that were discovered on a previous test. You can also drive your vehicle on a road without road tax in these circumstances too but your vehicle must be insured."

Dunc.

Edited by dunc_sx on Thursday 10th August 13:24

[Sheepshanks]

Tyrell Corp said:

Good advice , reason being that (suprisingly) it is actually safer to have a blow out on the front wheels -

That's not the reason.

The reason is that if the front lets go the car will understeer and drivers' correct that naturally by backing off. If the back lets go, say on a fast wet bend the natural reaction of backing off is the worst thing you can do as the car will snap over-steer and you're visiting the scenery.

[DKS]

It's never ok to drive on obviously illegal tyres (bald, cracked/ split, misshapen) but if they just look a bit manky wouldn't this be allowed under a 'pre-booked repair'?
Could the MOT place whack a couple of tyres on for you at the same time?

[TheLoraxxZeus]

ScoobyChris said:

I've been using mobile fitters (from a variety of companies!) for the last 20 years and I would argue they are better than the ones in the garages because they only seem to be experienced fitters, theydo everything in full view of you and there also isn't the rush to get through a line of waiting customers. The worst thing I think that happened was a Tyres-On-The-Drive chap keeping my metal dustcaps and replacing them with black plastic ones.

Chris

I second this. Dropped wheels off at a local garage (big chain connected to Black Circles) to fit new tires on my RPF1s, went to pick them up and the tech had fked up one of the alloys and never mentioned it to me. I was pissed right off and they wouldn't take responsibility.

Now I do mobile fitting because you literally see them doing it. Don't want to be the kind of person to watch people work but that really rubbed me wrong, £300 a corner as well.

[Sheepshanks]

TheLoraxxZeus said:

Now I do mobile fitting because you literally see them doing it.

As two people have said this - maybe the setups are different but with TOTD in the Halfords branded vans they disappear into the back of the van to do the tyre changing.

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Does the MOT garage do tyres, can you not just book with them to have them replaced before the MOT?

[Riley Blue]

Cliftonite said:

Unless your existing rears have lots of tread, you would probably be well advised to put your new tyres on the rear.

It's surprising how many people, when writing about getting new tyres, think it's OK to put them on the front because it's the front that have worn. New tyres should always go on the rear.

[Bobupndown]

Is this relatively new advice?
Always always put new tyres on the front, more grip, steering and traction on a fwd car.

[ScoobyChris]

Sheepshanks said:

As two people have said this - maybe the setups are different but with TOTD in the Halfords branded vans they disappear into the back of the van to do the tyre changing.

They all work in the van, but they access the van through the side sliding door and as such you can see them working...

Chris