Car failed the MOT because of a slight bulge in the tyre wall on one tyre. I assume I can just stick the spare on and all will be well. The guy at the garage was most unhelpful 'Get a tyre and we will have another go on Saturday' was the only advice he could offer.

I am sure STW can do better. So, new tyre or just stick the spare on for now and replace the spare at the end of the month?

They should also check the spare so put a new tyre on, sound like they guy gave you good advice.

stick the spare on and leave the dud at home.

If the spare is ok put it on and leave the spare out, If it isn't there it can't be tested.

IIRC the spare isn't tested. Stick it on, and leave the old one at home. In fact, if it were me I'd have done it outside the MOT station and gone back in.

If there is a spare they should check it, if there is no spare its OK.

Thought they checked the spare too on an MoT – it being a legal requirement to have a way of getting home after a puncture. Not sure what they'd do if you put the spare on then chuck a can of the reinflate stuff (you know Stan's for cars) in the boot

If the car is meant to have a spare it needs to be there. Not surprised you have a name like you have if you're driving round with tyres with bulges on them.

Can of re-inflate stuff instead of a spare and jobs done.

I did ask if I could get it retested again today and he said no, the are busy

I saw a car suffer a rapid deflation coming up to some lights at a roundabout this morning, they ended up in some railings with the police car that had been about 50 yards behind them pulling up to take a look.

… and another about 3 months ago, vehicle smashed into the kerb and almost tipped onto its roof before righting.

So a blase attitude is def called for.

The spare tyre is not a legal requirement and is not included as part of the MOT.

Although the time I did have a dodgy spare on the tester commented about it, but the car still passed.

Spare is not required as part of MOT.

Put the spare on as you suggest & leave the knackered one at home. Just make sure you do replace it though, not just 'mean to get round to it'.

unhelpful sod.

if the repair work is carried out by the mot station within 24hrs, the retest is free/cheap iirc.

you get a definate safety issue sorted for less than it could cost, and he could have sold you a tyre, everybody wins.

wouldnt drive around with a bulge in a tyre though, never want to experience a blow out, one on a bike is scary enough, 70mph on the motorway? no thanks.

having a fancy motor you may need 2 tyres, some cars need even wear on both sides or gearboxes/diffs end up broken

I will sort out a new tyre, just won't have time before the retest on Saturday morning

the new audi quattro's can get diff problems if theres more than a 3mm difference in tyre treads.
imagine the conversation's i have with customers, after they have a puncture or sidewall bleb on a tyre, all tyres have 4mm of tread left so plenty of life, but a new tyre is needed, so will be on 8mm of tread, then i tell them that they need 4 tyres as theres more than a 3mm tread differential.
It's a big bill if the diff does get knackered.

call kwick fit they have a mobile unit that could sort it by the weekend

Also watch out because your spare wheel may have speed warnings written on ot stickered on it, if it contains those then you can't use it for an MOT, and you will have to get the tyre changed on the correct rim.

My mum's car spare wheel is narrower and labelled as a get-you-home-only-spare-wheel, which I'd bet wouldn't pass MOT. YMMV

Spare different size to front wheel!

Looks like a trip to Michel Dever tyres. Kwik Fit rape my wallet for the Merc tyres. they are normally special order too!

can get diff problems if theres more than a 3mm difference in tyre treads

mate wrecked a celica gt4 centre diff by running the wrong profile on the front and worn tyres on the rear for a week while he had his wheels refurbed. expensive mistake

If the car is meant to have a spare it needs to be there.

Nope, as previously said, its not a requirement to be present, and if its not there for the test, its not tested.

Been there with that one. I asked in advance, guy went and got the book out and told me there and then.

your merc will probably have different sized front and rear wheels, the spare is probably smaller than both as its just meant to get you home, and i don't mean one of the piss ass farting space saver frisbie things.

A spare tyre is not a testable item for an MOT.
There is a facility to advise if the spare is faulty in any way.If your spare is the same size as the other tyres on the vehicle, then fit it.
You do not need to leave the defective tyre at home.Any defects on it are purely advisory.

change it for a new one, and keep your good spare, or when you get a blowout 6 months down the line and you forgot about the spare with the bulge in it , will also prolly blow out as well + loads of grife , poss injury , etc etc etc blah blah blah , see were its going , safty sake mate , change it.

Tut tut Goan, imagine getting that one wrong. And to think that the Government consider you to be a road safety expert too…..

i'll chuck some more unconfirmed nonsense in; if roadside recovery have to come out to you because you have a puncture and your car which was originally supplied with a spare doesnt have it present it will not be covered by your membership

mate wrecked a celica gt4 centre diff by running the wrong profile on the front and worn tyres on the rear for a week while he had his wheels refurbed. expensive mistake

Must have been a seriously different tyre setup, the GT4s viscous centre is pretty tolerant to that sort of abuse. What model was it?

The usual cause of failure on the GT4 is some numbnuts towing it with the front wheels lifted and locked or kind mr MOT roller testing it one end at a time.

wouldnt drive around with a bulge in a tyre though, never want to experience a blow out, one on a bike is scary enough, 70mph on the motorway? no thanks.

I've had it happen at about 80, in the outside lane of the M3, on my works Escort van a few years ago. The van was driven on lots of big buiding sites, so I imagine it picked up some damage or a nail on one of them. I'm pretty keen on keeping vehicles in good nick (Ask Solamanda….) so this surprised me at the time. It's pretty scary, yes, but not as bad as you might think to control and slow down. I had to have a 5 minute breather to stop shaking on the hard shoulder though! Luckily it was a rear tyre…..

2 years ago I had a front tyre blow whilst in the 3rd lane on the M40. Got to the hard shoulder, changed the wheel, got going again then filled all the nooks and cubbyholes with my breakfast. Still finding bits now. I'd rather not do it again.

luke – Member
the new audi quattro's can get diff problems if theres more than a 3mm difference in tyre treads.
imagine the conversation's i have with customers, after they have a puncture or sidewall bleb on a tyre, all tyres have 4mm of tread left so plenty of life, but a new tyre is needed, so will be on 8mm of tread, then i tell them that they need 4 tyres as theres more than a 3mm tread differential.
It's a big bill if the diff does get knackered.

How does that go with normal tyre wear rates then as don't the fronts wear much faster?