Tyre tread depth low MOT advisory: what it means and which cars get it
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as an advisory on at least 2.5 in 100 and as a failure on at least 2.2 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Suzuki Grand Vitara got it most often: recorded 14.3 times per 100 of its 24,508 tests.
DVSA wording: Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What it means
The legal minimum for cars is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the whole tyre. As an advisory it usually reads "worn close to the legal limit": the tyre is legal but will need replacing soon.
How serious it is
Tread below the legal limit is a dangerous defect, so a fail and the car should not be driven until it is fixed.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 5.2.3.
- Dangerous FailA direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it's been repaired.
- Advisory PassIt could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.
What fixing it usually involves
A new tyre. Uneven wear on the inner or outer edge points to an alignment or suspension problem worth fixing at the same time.
A general guide, not a quote: ask a garage to inspect the car.
Which models get it most
Per 100 initial MOT tests on each model, among the 231 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.
| Model | Tests | Fail | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 24,508 | 2.1 | 12.2 |
| Mercedes-Benz Citan | 20,306 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
| Peugeot Bipper | 22,191 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 218,483 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
| Volkswagen Touran | 78,967 | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| Citroen C4 | 141,093 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
| Ford Galaxy | 66,373 | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Renault Kangoo | 59,516 | 3.7 | 2.7 |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 39,116 | 3.5 | 2.9 |
| Vauxhall Combo | 107,867 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carCheck the tread across the full width of every tyre, including the inner edge you can only see by turning the wheel or looking underneath. A 20p coin is a rough guide: if its outer band is visible when pushed into the grooves, the tread may be close to or below the limit.
- In the MOT historyIf this appears as an advisory, see whether it came back at the next test or turned into a failure, and ask the seller for the receipt if it was fixed.
Check a specific car
Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.
Questions
What does "Tyre tread depth low" mean on an MOT?
Tyre tread depth low: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "tyre tread depth low" on an MOT?
More tyres and wheels defects
How these figures are made. We counted the defects recorded at every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 in the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Each item counts once per test. A failure is a major or dangerous defect, including one fixed during the test. A model's rate is the share of its tests where the item was recorded.
For each model we keep its 40 most frequent items, so a model where a defect is rarer than that is not listed, and figures for all cars are a floor. Defect names and explanations are ours, checked against the MOT inspection manual; DVSA's own wording is shown under each name.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.