Protyre News

Now that 2018 is well and truly behind us – hello 2019! – the tyre professionals at Protyre hope that everyone is enjoying a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. No doubt there’s optimism in the air, manifest as the usual new year resolutions, and good luck with those. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of best intentions will undoubtedly fall by the curb, but if there’s just one resolution you should seriously attempt to keep it’s ensuring that your vehicle – and, in particular, its tyres – are in the best possible shape they can be.

Why? Because the new year sees the introduction of the latest changes to the UK’s MOT regulations, potentially putting your vehicle at risk of failing, if you’re not up to speed. We all know just how easy it is to fail an MOT – often for avoidable reasons – so with this in mind, Protyre team have come up with a brief overview of what you need to know – with extra consideration for how the changes effect your tyres.

Changes to the MOT were made in 2018, but come into force now

The changes to the MOT took place in May 2018, but their effect will be felt from now on. There are five key changes you need to be aware of:

Vehicle defects categorisation has changed

Defects detected during your MOT will now be categorised as either Dangerous, Major or Minor. Defects attributed with the latter category, Minor, will pass the MOT, but faults considered either Dangerous and Major will incur an automatic fail – rendering your vehicle unroadworthy. There’s a breakdown of which defects fall into which category from MOT manuals and special notices here.

Emission standards for diesel vehicles just got tougher

Vehicles that are fitted with a DPF – Diesel Particulate Filter – will be assessed for any "visible smoke of any colour" during the MOT. Any vehicle discovered to be making these emissions will be classed as having a major fault – and that’s an automatic fail. If the inspection discovers signs of DPF tampering, your vehicle will fail too.

Is your vehicle 40 year old? If so, it may no longer require testing

Those vehicles manufactured before 1960 are already exempt from testing, but this ‘pass’ is being extended to vehicles that have been registered for forty years or longer, too. As such, vehicles first registered in 1979 (and before) are now exempt from taking the test. However, there are exceptions that relate to whether the vehicle has been ‘substantially changed’ within the last thirty years. Here’s full government guidance on the matter.

New checks heve been added to the MOT

On top of all existing MOT tests, there are additional components that you need to be aware of:

• Inspecting brake fluid to make sure it has not been contaminated

• Ensuring that no fluid has leaked (posing a risk to the environment)

• Checking that reversing lights on all vehicles are functional

• That your brake pad warning lights work, and if any brake pads or discs are missing

• Functioning headlight washers on vehicles which first came into use from 1st September 2009 (in the case that they are fitted

• Functioning daytime running lights on vehicles which first came into use from 1st March 2018

• Checking that your tyres are not obviously underinflated

This final addition to the testing process – underinflated tyres – can trip motorists up, but in truth it’s easily negated through regular inspection of your tyres. It would be a shame to have your vehicle failed just because of an underinflated tyre, right – but you’d be surprised just how many vehicles do fail their MOT due to tyre-related issues. Latest figures show that 10% of all MOT fails are down to defective tyres – the fourth highest reason for MOT fails.

There are various reasons why tyres are failed during the MOT, and Protyre have covered these topics over recent months on this website:

• Tread depth – learn more about the UK road legal minimum, and how to monitor yours.

• Inflation – over and underinflation can be dangerous, and affect your driving performance. Read more.

• Tyre damage overview – cuts, abrasions and sidewall integrity failure can be avoided through regular inspection. Discover how.

Part Worns – second hand tyres are dramatically more likely to fail an MOT than new premium tyres. They’re inherently dangerous, and best avoided. Find out why.

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Choosing to fit new premium tyres will keep you safer, and help pass your MOT

Premium tyres, like those made by leading manufacturer, Continental, not only keep you safer on the road, they also help to pass your MOT. As previously stated, there are many ways that defective tyres can fail the MOT, but by fitting award winning Continental tyres, you can dramatically minimise the chances of this happening.

You can find out more about the changes in detail – and what the testers will be looking out for – at MOT on GOV.UK.

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