Am I right in thinking that it is not a legal requirment for ANY vehicle to carry a spare wheel on board?
If you do carry a spare wheel is it always checked with the MOT and will fail if below the min tread depth?
Thanks, Dan
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This is what I have been told but never actually properly checked.
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If you do carry a spare wheel is it always checked with the MOT and will fail if below the min tread depth?
Nope. Spare can be as bald as a badgers backside as it's not part of the test. Providing the road wheels are all ok, you'll get a pass. (see below)
www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm
This inspection applies to:-
Tyres fitted to the road wheels only. The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on a spare wheel.
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The only thing a spare wheel can fail for is an underslung one that is not secure.
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The only reason an MOT tester will look in the boot is to check that there is no structural damage - as pointed out the spare wheel doesn't come into the equation.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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I've never had an MOT tester look in my boot. Although another reason I can think of for him doing so is to check the secure fixing of the battery.
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just a thought ,i had a montego years ago and it had a set of 14" alloys fitted (off an mg meastro) i went to change the rear offside because of a puncture but the spare was a 13" steel original i didnt have much choice in the matter so i had to fit it, it did look odd but it drove in a straight line only prob was the headlights were a bit high and to the left as it were
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I've never had an MOT tester look in my boot.
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I would be worried if that is the case.
Every time my MoT testers check the family cars X 3 they check in the boot, IIRC after tapping the back lights to ensure they do not flicker.
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I've watched a couple of MOT testers test my cars, and they tend to open the boot and check for corrosion etc, never seen them actually measure the tread on the spare though. My spare would be verging on dangerous anyway, as it's 7 years old (original) and never been used. In the event of a puncture, I'd rather limp to the nearest KwikFit than go any distance on it!
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My spare would be verging on dangerous anyway .....
If it's been in the boot all its life (as opposed to being slung underneath the car) then it should still be as good as new. ie, not exposed to the elements, nor UV light from the sun.
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If it's been in the boot all its life (as opposed to being slung underneath the car) then it should still be as good as new...
Spose it should be, but it's got quite a few cracks in the sidewalls despite the tread looking "as new". Would be interesting to read the little code and find out when it was actually made! Thankfully I've never needed it - never had a puncture since I started driving (touch wood).
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My spare wheel (a Michelin) was first used when it was six years old to replace one nearing the end of its life - that's a year ago and it's still in very good shape.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Years ago I bought an Audi 80 2nd hand, and the spare wheel provided was an alloy from a lesser spec 80 (mine was a quattro). It wasn?t until about 6 months later I was messing with the brakes and I thought, ?I wonder what it will look like with that different wheel on the car.?
I tried to fit it but it would not go on the car, the PCD was the same but the quattro had 14mm wheel bolts, and the spare only had holes big enough for 12mm bolts.
So after that I scrapped the spare and bought a can of Holts Tyre Weld instead, which I?ve still got, 11 years old and unused.
By the way, does this stuff have a shelf life?
:o)
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