MOT a car on spare wheel?

[JOEPRO]

Per my other tread I am getting my 2003 S600 Mercedes ready for MOT.

One of its original 20 inch wheels has a buckle in it from a very bad pothole. (Also took out a £220 Tyre)

I am getting the wheel repaired but it's likely to not be ready for a week or two yet.

The car came with a "proper" spare wheel. That is, a full size light alloy wheel and full speed rated tyre.



Is this likely to pass MOT or is there a rule that says must be matching set of wheels?

Would prefer to take it sooner than waiting on the wheel repair but if I have to wait it is what it is.

Also - I am based in Northern Ireland so it's our MOT system

 

[bricol]

Is the tyre the same size and speed rating as the other three? Ie same width, same profile and same wheel diameter and width?

If it is, then over here on the mainland I think it should pass, as some of my cars have.

Any of those are different, then it should fail.

 

[bricol]

Having zoomed in - that tyre appears to be on a 18" wheel - as you say the damaged wheel is a 20", so I assume the other three are too - then fail.

 

[jordhandson]

in the Uk I always under the understanding that as long as the tyres are the same size and speed rating was per axle it was ok My z350 has narrower on the front to the rears and I never had a problem with MOT

 

[premmington]

Matching sets of sized tyres on the same axle is an MOT pass.

Anything less is a fail..

It is the law... (I did not make the rules)

 

[JOEPRO]

Yes this spare is an 18 and the other wheels are 20 inch.

Googling it gets all sorts of opinions. That a space saver will fail. But full size may depend on the sizing being the same on the axle. In this case it would not be.

My wheel repair guy is very unreliable. He will promise the world and will have it next day. Then doesn't answer the phone and lucky to get it back inside a month! There aren't other places local so I'm at his mercy really which sucks but will try my best to get it back by next weekend. Aiming to have MOT on 23rd April.

 

[JOEPRO]

What doesn't help is whilst I have 11 benzes this spare is unique to a V12 to clear the brakes. So I can't even put a matching spare on it.

 

[voipio]

Surely it follows, then, that if a car would be an MOT fail with a spare wheel on, then putting a spare wheel on a car makes it unroadworthy.

 

[6ply]

Surely it follows, then, that if a car would be an MOT fail with a spare wheel on, then putting a spare wheel on a car makes it unroadworthy.

I don't have one, but aren't they speed restricted? So not for permanent / regular use?

 

[brightspark]

just ask em at the test center if they will pass it when you take it in

 

[JOEPRO]

I don't have one, but aren't they speed restricted? So not for permanent / regular use?

I suppose there are 2 categories of spare wheels.

The narrow speed limited "space saver" wheels. Definitely wouldn't pass on that I would see why.

Then a full size, full speed rated spare wheel. Which is what mine is. But then my other wheels are 20 inch which is what presents a concern then

 

[JOEPRO]

just ask em at the test center if they will pass it when you take it in

That's the plan if I'm beat. Show them photos and explain is in for repair and I'm happy to bring it back if they want me to.

 

[voipio]

When a space saver wheel is fitted, it doesn't make a car unroadworthy, just less roadworthy, perhaps, so on MOT surely that should go down as an advisory.

 

[Chippie]

I suppose there are 2 categories of spare wheels.

The narrow speed limited "space saver" wheels. Definitely wouldn't pass on that I would see why.

Then a full size, full speed rated spare wheel. Which is what mine is. But then my other wheels are 20 inch which is what presents a concern then

Interesting debate…,
but….if a vehicle with a space saver fitted is presented and fails because then the car is unroadworthy, surely fitting the space saver due to puncture ( or whatever..) makes the car unroadworthy too?

 

[doubleboost]

It would be a fail I would think the TPMS system would show a fault as well as most spare wheels don't have a sensor fitted ) A tyre: (i) load capacity or speed rating not in accordance with the minimum requirements (ii) load capacity insufficient for axle presented weight Major Dangerous (b) Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes Major (c)

 

[bricol]

"on the same axle" is the bit I forgot - sorry!

Spacer savers are allowed in law for emergency use only, to get you to a place of repair - hence the speed limit on them, and often a distance limit imposed by the maker, not by law.

 

[bricol]

I did cause confusion a large number of years ago as an improvrished student, presented the car for inspection after a stop/producer with wider, but lower profile tyres on the rear, on the same diameter wheels as the front - I think the book at the time only referred to "larger" tyres on the back . . . we agreed the "wider" bit was "larger" enough to get a tick on the producer paperwork.

 

[arther dailey]

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[Robotstar5]

What doesn't help is whilst I have 11 benzes this spare is unique to a V12 to clear the brakes. So I can't even put a matching spare on it.

Instead of looking for a matching spare, can't you borrow a full set off another car?

 

[Chippie]

"on the same axle" is the bit I forgot - sorry!

Spacer savers are allowed in law for emergency use only, to get you to a place of repair - hence the speed limit on them, and often a distance limit imposed by the maker, not by law.

Their use seems to be misunderstood then…..Ive seen numerous vehicles with them fitted on the road and I doubt it was not under emergency conditions…