Vans receiving a tyre advisory at their MOT are almost twice as likely to return with a dangerous tyre defect the following year, according to analysis of nearly 137,000 vehicles.

TyreSafe examined anonymised DVSA records for vans tested in February 2024 and linked them with the same vehicles’ next MOTs around a year later.

Of the 27,573 vans originally given a tyre advisory, 1,931 – approximately one in 14 – returned with a defect serious enough to be graded Dangerous. That compares with 3.6%, or around one in 28, among vans that hadn’t received an advisory.

The difference was even greater among vans weighing between 3.0 and 3.5 tonnes. Some 6.3% of those receiving an advisory subsequently recorded a dangerous tyre defect, compared with 3.0% of vans without a warning.

TyreSafeExternal link image says adjusting the figures to account for vehicle age made little difference to the results.

Previous MOTs warned of tyre failures

Around three in ten vans that subsequently failed an MOT because of their tyres had received an advisory during their previous test.

An advisory doesn’t result in an MOT failure, but it identifies wear or damage that could become more serious. TyreSafe is urging operators to record every tyre advisory, set a deadline for inspection or replacement and confirm that the work has been completed.

“An MOT tyre advisory is an early warning, and our analysis shows it is a reliable one,” said Stuart Lovatt, chair of TyreSafe.

“Vans that get one are almost twice as likely to have a dangerous tyre a year later. That is a risk to the driver, to everyone around them, and to the business that depends on that van.”

DVSA roadside enforcement data also identified tyre condition as the most common prohibition defect among vans inspected between April and June 2026. It was recorded against 22.7% of vehicles checked, although DVSA targets vans suspected of being overloaded or unroadworthy rather than examining a representative sample of the entire fleet.

Fleets urged to close out advisories

TyreSafe recommends including tyres in drivers’ daily walkaround checks and providing a clear process for reporting defects.

Pressures should be set according to the vehicle manufacturer’s figures for the load being carried, while drivers should regularly inspect tyres for cuts, bulges, cracking, embedded objects and uneven wear.

Tread depth must be at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its complete circumference.

Fleet managers should also ensure wheel nuts are tightened to the correct torque and subsequently rechecked whenever a wheel has been removed.

Phil Huff
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