Tyre tread depth at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
7.9% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 729,799 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles under 3 years old (10.4%) and least common on vehicles 20 years old and over (4.9%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 299 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Tesla Model 3, the Mercedes-Benz GLE and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. On the Tesla Model 3, 30.5% of failed tests had it, against 10.3% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
Tread shallower than the MOT requirement. For cars, the main grooves must be at least 1.6mm deep across the central three-quarters of the tread, all the way round the tyre.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements” as a dangerous defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model 313,522 failed tests | 30.5%4,124 tests | 3.0×all: 10.3% |
| 2 | Mercedes-Benz GLE4,353 failed tests | 22.2%968 tests | 2.3×all: 9.8% |
| 3 | Ford Mustang Mach-E759 failed tests | 21.7%165 tests | 2.1×all: 10.2% |
| 4 | Cupra Formentor1,628 failed tests | 20.3%330 tests | 2.0×all: 10.1% |
| 5 | Audi e-tron1,780 failed tests | 19.8%352 tests | 1.9×all: 10.3% |
| 6 | Citroen C5 Aircross666 failed tests | 19.2%128 tests | 1.9×all: 10.1% |
| 7 | Suzuki Vitara10,606 failed tests | 18.0%1,909 tests | 1.9×all: 9.6% |
| 8 | Vauxhall Grandland12,160 failed tests | 19.0%2,311 tests | 1.8×all: 10.3% |
| 9 | Tesla Model S1,849 failed tests | 16.8%310 tests | 1.8×all: 9.3% |
| 10 | Audi A72,394 failed tests | 14.7%352 tests | 1.7×all: 8.5% |
| 11 | SEAT Ateca6,288 failed tests | 16.3%1,028 tests | 1.6×all: 10.0% |
| 12 | Peugeot 5084,384 failed tests | 13.3%583 tests | 1.6×all: 8.3% |
| 13 | Audi A528,467 failed tests | 13.4%3,824 tests | 1.6×all: 8.4% |
| 14 | Audi A623,985 failed tests | 12.9%3,087 tests | 1.6×all: 8.0% |
| 15 | Kia XCeed2,909 failed tests | 16.5%479 tests | 1.6×all: 10.3% |
Only models where this defect is one of their 10 most common MOT failures, with at least 50 failed tests, have a figure. So a model that isn't listed can still have it, just less often than its other faults. Vans, pick-ups and taxis are left out, as in our rankings. × is the model's share divided by the share for all vehicles of the same age.
Models where it was at most half as common
| Car | Share of failed tests | All vehicles, same age |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz EQC2,010 failed tests | 3.0%61 tests | 10.3% |
| Toyota Yaris Cross1,298 failed tests | ≤3.8%not in its top 10 | 10.3% |
| Fiat 500E1,183 failed tests | 4.4%52 tests | 10.2% |
| Ford Tourneo Custom2,638 failed tests | ≤4.8%not in its top 10 | 10.3% |
| Peugeot Horizon1,964 failed tests | ≤4.2%not in its top 10 | 9.0% |
| MG HS3,794 failed tests | 4.8%183 tests | 10.3% |
| Skoda Kamiq2,596 failed tests | 5.1%133 tests | 10.3% |
| Ford Tourneo3,642 failed tests | 4.6%168 tests | 9.2% |
≤ means at most: the defect wasn't one of the model's 10 most common, so we only know it had no more failed tests than the model's 10th most common defect, or fewer than 50. Models are listed by these figures against the same-age share, so this is not a ranking of the lowest.
How common it is by car age
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 202410.4% of failed tests, against 7.9% for all ages1,138 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 202210.3% of failed tests, against 7.9% for all ages70,395 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20199.6% of failed tests, against 7.9% for all ages202,301 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20157.9% of failed tests, against 7.9% for all ages265,585 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20106.8% of failed tests, against 7.9% for all ages150,625 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20054.9% of failed tests, against 7.9% for all ages39,755 failed tests
All-vehicle figures cover vehicles first used from 1985 to 2024: 9,185,328 of the 9,193,164 failed initial tests in 2025.
How these figures are counted
These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. A defect found on more than one wheel, lamp or joint at the same test counts once. "Same age" is the defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the model's own failed tests in each year.
An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. These figures show where a defect was recorded, not why, and not what a repair costs. Figures: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. What the MOT checks: MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, GOV.UK, read 1 Nov 2026.
How we choose and rank these defectsOther tyres faults
- Tyre cut5.0% of failed tests
- Tyre cords exposed4.8% of failed tests
- Tyre pressure monitoring1.7% of failed tests
- Tyre bulge1.5% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.