MOT fail · manual section 5.2.3

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

What this MOT fail means, how often testers record it and what the usual repair costs. From 130,233,413 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

As a fail, per 100 MOTs (n=130,233,413)2.40

Most often at16 years

Times recorded3,119,573

Times recorded adds every DVSA code with this wording, so a test can record it more than once, for example on two wheels under separate codes.

What it means

This is a dangerous defect: the car fails its MOT. A dangerous defect is a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The car fails its MOT and should not be driven until it is repaired.

Before it reaches this point, testers often record it as an advisory: Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge.

Tyres are checked for tread depth, cuts, bulges, exposed cords and other damage. For a car, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the whole tyre.

The MOT inspection manual describes the defect (section 5.2.3) as:

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

Read this section of the MOT inspection manual on GOV.UK

The DVSA codes counted on this page: the manual item and the defect text as DVSA records them. The heading above joins the two, as a certificate does; the tester also adds the position, such as nearside front.
Result	Manual item	DVSA defect text	Records
Fail Dangerous	Tread depth	tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3)	3,119,573

Got an MOT advisory or defect on a certificate? Paste it into the MOT advisory checker to see what it means.

How common it is by age

Testers record it most at 16 years: 3.13 per 100 MOTs (n=4,858,625 tests at that age).

Per 100 MOT tests of cars at each age, all makes. We show no figure below 20 tests.
Age	Fail per 100	Tests (n)
3 years	1.30	8,016,463
4 years	1.41	8,699,937
5 years	1.71	9,425,360
6 years	1.95	10,382,720
7 years	2.16	10,537,318
8 years	2.34	10,440,457
9 years	2.51	9,949,012
10 years	2.67	9,049,507
11 years	2.81	8,087,514
12 years	2.93	7,303,151
13 years	3.03	6,612,160
14 years	3.11	6,054,526
15 years	3.13	5,591,675
16 years	3.13	4,858,625
17 years	3.04	4,040,458
18 years	2.91	3,261,622
19 years	2.78	2,479,858
20 years	2.60	1,845,952
21 years	2.38	1,321,417
22 years	2.17	913,980
23 years	1.89	619,531
24 years	1.62	428,815
25 years	1.40	313,355

Models that get it most

Each model generation is compared with cars of the same ages and fuel, so older and diesel models are not penalised for their age or fuel. Generations are never pooled.

Model generations with the highest rate as a fail, against cars of the same ages and fuel. A model’s figure counts this defect only at ages where it is among that model’s 25 most recorded items, and as zero elsewhere, so it is a floor. Tests (n) are all the generation’s MOT tests at ages with at least 1,000 tests each; at least 5,000 in total.
Model	Per 100 MOTs, at least	Same ages and fuel	Times as often	Tests (n)	Ages
Tesla Model 3Tesla Model 3 tyre replacement Tesla Model 3 tyre problems	5.23	2.15	2.4	192,551	3 to 6
Jeep Compassfirst used 2017 or laterJeep Compass tyre problems	3.23	1.56	2.0	31,820	3 to 7
BMW i8BMW i8 tyre problems	3.30	1.64	2.0	5,846	6 to 9
DS DS7DS DS7 tyre problems	3.16	1.57	2.0	12,453	3 to 6
Suzuki CarrySuzuki Carry tyre problems	5.07	2.62	1.9	13,545	17 to 22
Vauxhall GrandlandVauxhall Grandland tyre problems	2.94	1.53	1.9	243,753	3 to 7
Cupra Formentor	2.22	1.16	1.9	21,857	3 to 4
DS DS4first used before 2021DS DS4 tyre problems	5.34	2.81	1.9	58,336	5 to 13
Mercedes-Benz CitanMercedes-Benz Citan tyre problems	4.47	2.38	1.8	80,122	3 to 12
Kia XCeedKia XCeed tyre problems	2.38	1.27	1.8	47,938	3 to 5
Maserati GhibliMaserati Ghibli tyre problems	4.27	2.39	1.7	11,676	5 to 10
Kia ProCeedfirst used 2019 or laterKia ProCeed tyre problems	2.54	1.43	1.7	15,451	3 to 6
Fiat TipoFiat Tipo tyre problems	3.16	1.83	1.7	49,704	3 to 9
Suzuki Vitarafirst used 2015 or laterSuzuki Vitara tyre problems	2.86	1.71	1.6	248,462	3 to 10
Suzuki BalenoSuzuki Baleno tyre problems	2.90	1.76	1.6	26,797	3 to 9
Smart Forfourfirst used 2014 or laterSmart Forfour tyre problems	3.07	1.90	1.6	89,645	3 to 10
Toyota Starlet	2.50	1.55	1.6	5,075	24 to 25
Ford Transit CourierFord Transit Courier tyre problems	3.34	2.10	1.5	103,155	3 to 11
SEAT TarracoSEAT Tarraco tyre problems	2.45	1.54	1.5	30,698	3 to 6
DS DS5DS DS5 tyre problems	4.52	2.84	1.5	20,165	7 to 12

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Repair and cost

The usual repair is tyre replacement, priced per tyre.

Median price (98 shops)£87.05

Middle half of prices£72.57 to £113.93

ONS price quotes for “CAR TYRE, STATE SIZE”, September 2025 to August 2026, UK, 2,026 quotes from 98 shops, priced per tyre. The ONS item is a tyre of a stated size; whether fitting is included is not stated. Consumer prices as quoted.

If a garage also charges labour

Local garage labour, per hour (65 shops)£78

Local garage, middle half£70 to £96

Main dealer labour, per hour (62 shops)£156

Main dealer, middle half£144 to £174

Median hourly rate charged for car repairs, from 1,058 local garage and 953 main dealer price quotes collected by the ONS, September 2025 to August 2026. The same shops are priced each month, so the number of shops is the real sample.

Tyre replacement: cost and the models that need it more often

Related MOT defects

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8.49 per 100
Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.35 per 100
Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.34 per 100
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.31 per 100
Tyre slightly damaged0.65 per 100
Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.56 per 100
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.44 per 100
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.38 per 100
Tyre obviously under inflated0.20 per 100
Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.17 per 100

All axles, wheels, tyres and suspension defects All MOT defects Car repair costs

Buying a used car?

These figures describe all cars, not any one car. Found one you might buy? See what the VetTheCar Buying Report would tell you.

See an example report MOT fail rates by model All free tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025, and the MOT inspection manual published on GOV.UK. Prices: ONS consumer price inflation price quotes, September 2025 to August 2026, UK.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Prices updated 22 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA or the Office for National Statistics. How we calculate these figures · Data sources