Mot question

[Bren]

If I present a car for MOT with different size wheels is it a failure?

[Junkman]

Why would one present a car for MOT with different size wheels?

[DodgeRover]

Why would one present a car for MOT with different size wheels?

16" Alloy wheels with lo profiles and 15" steel with normal tyre spare a la Mercs?

[Junkman]

I asked why, not what.

[Stanky]

I got an advisory once for having a 'hot rod' Volvo 340 DL with what I think might have been 15" steel wheels on the back and 13" wheels on the front. It looked wicked but the rear tyres were ancient and it'd drift round a slightly damp roundabout at about 8mph. It passed, but with an advisory saying the wheel sizes were different.

 

I think MGFs might have wider tyres at the back, NSXs had bigger wheels at the back and most hotrods seem to have much bigger wheels and wider tyres at the back. All can be road legal. As BenHar says, they must match on an axle, but can be different front to back.

 

Has anyone ever put bigger wheels on the front axle?

[DodgeRover]

I asked why, not what.

Sorry assumed if you were using the spare it was because you had a puncture/ bent a rim on the way to the MOT

[Inspector Morose]

 

Has anyone ever put bigger wheels on the front axle?

 

Citroen.

Well not quite bigger wheels but higher profile tyres on the front.

[Stanky]

Original DS?

[Jim Bell]

If I present a car for MOT with different size wheels is it a failure?

Tractors.

[scaryoldcortina]

Sorry assumed if you were using the spare it was because you had a puncture/ bent a rim on the way to the MOT

 

Problem is that if your spare isn't the same size as the other wheels you will fail that MoT due to needing the same size tyres across an axle.

 

Also, if the spare is a "spacesaver" with a 50mph warning marker you would fail even if you fitted another one to the other side of the car.

[Inspector Morose]

And CX. Basically with around 80% of the weight on the front, the back wheels are there just to keep its arse off the ground.

[Split_Pin]

As long as both pairs of wheels/tyres are suitable then I don't see that it would be a problem.

[Mr A Lawrence]

Problem is that if your spare isn't the same size as the other wheels you will fail that MoT due to needing the same size tyres across an axle.

 

Also, if the spare is a "spacesaver" with a 50mph warning marker you would fail even if you fitted another one to the other side of the car.

But what if you have a puncture on the way to the test centre??

 

 

Mgf's have the same size wheels, front to back, ie; 15in or 16in but different section tyres, same as some big mercs and bmws.

[Jim Bell]

Gassers.

[5speedracer]

Starsky and Hutch capris', oops torinos'!

 

Sent from my X17 using Tapatalk

[scaryoldcortina]

But what if you have a puncture on the way to the test centre??

 

 

 

You fail the test, but get a free minor items retest that only checks the tyre you got fixed.

 

Or you could go to a test station that fits tyres, then it's a PRS fix and you get both a fail and a pass!

[omegod]

As a slight hijack, will a completely bodged ( bean can and jubilee clips) exhaust pipe leak make it through an MOT as long as it's not leaking? 

[scaryoldcortina]

Yes, so long as the exhaust is adequately supported a temporary repair should pass. Bean can over a hole, ok. Bean can bridging a snapped pipe and it wobbling all over the shop, propbably not. It can even leak a bit as long as the emission machine reads correctly (small exhaust leaks pull in air and ruin your lambda reading at the tailpipe)

[Snipes]

Audi RS3 (last shape, not the current one) had wider tyres front than rear. Really serious FWD drag racers have much bigger wheels on the front to counter the tendency for the car to lean on the rear wheels, improving traction.

 

I think most mid-engined Lotus' have larger rear wheels too.

[SiC]

Most proper, decent power RWD sports cars (or even cars) have wider rear tyres than front. Obviously the same diameter alloys.

[beko1987]

My xm nearly failed its first mot with me as it had 2 different sized tyres on 1 axle.

 

Luckily my mate who did my tests at the time said 'just get it changed', so after the test I got 2 same size part words put on.

 

So yea, has to be the same over an axle

[daverapid]

If you're going to bodge your exhaust with a bean can don't forget, it has to be Heinz.

[vulgalour]

Another odd MoT question here, do your front seatbelts have to match?

 

My Renault has static three point belts in the front but one of the release buttons sometimes fires off into the cabin when used.  The belt still plugs in and when you retreive the button can be released as it should but I suspect this will be a failure point at test time and tape won't be a permissable fix.

 

The only spare seatbelt I have in - because I have no plugs that match those in the Renault - is an inertia reel three points and that would mean I'd have an inertia and a static in the front rather than matched types.

 

I'm not sure how it would be a fail if both belts were functional, I just expect it would be somehow.  I am trying to find replacement belts and stalks so both match, or at least a correct stalk, but it's proving difficult.

[scaryoldcortina]

No, they don't have to match. Inertia or fixed, or even 2 point diagonal fixed on something as old as your renault in any combination. Front seats only, Lap belt only is a no-no.

 

edit - the broken buckle might not be a MoT fail if it latches securely and can be released. The regs don't seem to cover the case where it explodes on release in comedy clown car fashion so it's probably only an advisory.

[vulgalour]

They'll probably be alarmed/disappointed if something doesn't ping off clown car fashion during test.

[Jim Bell]

Can clown cars get a daylight only mot if the headlights fall off during test?

[scaryoldcortina]

Only if all the other lights fall off as well.

[doobietoo]

Following on with the seat belt question are lap belts ok for the front seats of cars that do not need belts at all...

[Eddie Honda]

Front seats only, Lap belt only is a no-no.

 

I thought it was phrased driver's seat and outermost passenger? I thinking that an old motor with a front bench seat didn't / doesn't need a belt for the middle seat.

[scaryoldcortina]

Following on with the seat belt question are lap belts ok for the front seats of cars that do not need belts at all...

No, lapbelts are not OK for the specified front seats. Fit them to a car with no belts and you will fail.

 

I thought it was phrased driver's seat and outermost passenger? I thinking that an old motor with a front bench seat didn't / doesn't need a belt for the middle seat.

The exact wording is "Foremost in the vehicle and furthest from the driver's seat" meaning if you remove your front passenger seat, the back seat requires a belt on the passenger side. If there is a centre front seat it doesn't need a belt if the car is pre 1987 and can be a lap belt.