MOT Failure!!!

LSainsbury · 10-08-2008, 09:33

My car is a 05 Skoda Octavia - so it's gone for it's first MOT - and it failed!

The issue was that it had two diffrent size tyres on the real axel - which we did not know about!!

Back in December 07 I took the car in for two new front tryes as they needed replacing.

The guy at the tyre centre ( a local centre with about 15 branches in the south west) advised that the rear tyres would also need changing soon as the tred depth was getting low, although they probably had a a few thousand miles in them yet, so we decided to get all four done.

So this is where the mistake has happened - the fitter who changed them picked up the incorrect tyre from the rack and fitted and we were none the wiser - until yesterday.

The tyres that should be fitted are 205's but a 215 was fitted.

We've taken the car back to the tyre centre and we were prepared for a fight but the swapped it with no quibble, however we will be taking it up with their HQ.

Apart from the car being illegal for six months what other implications could there have been?

**Kymmy** · 10-08-2008, 09:43

There's a lot of issues about the geometry of the car but in the end the mistake was found, corrected and no-one was injured.

A complaint to the HQ is in order for them to review what went wrong and perhaps this might lead to a few freebie tyre changes in the future

SInce then though have you never done a weekly tyre check?? I know that the tyre size isn;t something most would check for (cuts, punctures, pressure, tread is the most copmmon thing) but the 215 is quite a bit wider (and if the same aspect ratio) also a slight bit taller which would have also meant a slightly different driving experience... Mind you I suppoose most wouldn't notice unless you've driven professionally

LSainsbury · 10-08-2008, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

There's a lot of issues about the geometry of the car but in the end the mistake was found, corrected and no-one was injured.

A complaint to the HQ is in order for them to review what went wrong and perhaps this might lead to a few freebie tyre changes in the future

SInce then though have you never done a weekly tyre check?? I know that the tyre size isn;t something most would check for (cuts, punctures, pressure, tread is the most copmmon thing)but the 215 is quite a bit wider (and if the same aspect ratio) also a bit taller which would have meant a different driving experience...

This is - if for any reason I was pulled over byt the fuzz and they found it I would have got points!

Yes thats what we are going to do...it's fortunate that I can get the car back to the MOT centre for a free re-check and then they will issue a certificate.

Yes I do check them for correct pressure and general condition, but the size is something I don't check as there's no real need. We didn't pay Ã‚Â£336 to the tyre centre for them to give us the incorrect tyres - we trust them to do the job correctly.

I've never noticed a diffrent driving experience - but I might now...

**Kymmy** · 10-08-2008, 10:22

the onus is on the owner of the car to make sure that it's in a road legal status so if you got pulled over then it would really depend on if you got a jobsworth copper or not as to if you'd get action taken against you. Most though would give you a 7 day order where you'd have to get the wheel changed (probably immediately at the side of the road to the spare) and then get the offending tyre sorted and certified as fixed with proof to be taken to the police station in 7 days.

In the end it's a human error, they do happen and probably always will, hence everyone should really check on any work done

WHISTLED · 10-08-2008, 10:40

Unless it as a full check for roadworthyness (because teh car was a heap and seemed unsafe) there is no way an officer would pick up on different tyres.

If they did as Kymmy said, swap the tyre there and then with spare. No points.

The error has been corrected with no quibble, everyone makes mistakes - Is this just for compensation??

LSainsbury · 10-08-2008, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

In the end it's a human error, they do happen and probably always will, hence everyone should really check on any work done

I think the problem was with labels on the tyres - the label says one thing but the tyre is something else.

Yes we should have checked and will do in the future!

---------- Post added at 11:45 ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLED

Unless it as a full check for roadworthyness (because teh car was a heap and seemed unsafe) there is no way an officer would pick up on different tyres.

If they did as Kymmy said, swap the tyre there and then with spare. No points.

The error has been corrected with no quibble, everyone makes mistakes - Is this just for compensation??

I dunno - you might just get a switched on copper and pick up on it...

Will have to check the spare as well!

**Kymmy** · 10-08-2008, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

I think the problem was with labels on the tyres - the label says one thing but the tyre is something else.!

As all tyre sizes are molded into the tyre wall even a dodgy label shouldn;t of gone un-noticed.

Any tyre tech should grab the tyre from the stores and then check the tyre for mold problems including the size.

LSainsbury · 10-08-2008, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

As all tyre sizes are molded into the tyre wall even a dodgy label shouldn;t of gone un-noticed.

Any tyre tech should grab the tyre from the stores and then check the tyre for mold problems including the size.

Exactly - the label said one type but the tyre was actually something else - the tech should have picked up on it.

OK - yes perhaps I should have checked at the time, but who does?

keithwalton · 10-08-2008, 15:37

the difference between 205 and 215 is only 10mm and around 5% in width and the same in diameter if the profile was the same and since it was fitted to the rear (un-driven) wheels on a front wheel drive vehicle its hardly used and so would be quite difficult to notice.

I take it they only changed the wrong rear tyre ? I suppose the other one is hardly worn at all.

LSainsbury · 10-08-2008, 16:13

Yep - they just replaced the incorrect tyre.

**Derek** · 10-08-2008, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

I dunno - you might just get a switched on copper and pick up on it...

Some of the traffic cops (the ones in decent cars and white hats) are so adept at finding faults with cars its scary. As for some of the VOSA examiners

I'd not be surprised if they could find faults with 99% of cars coming off a factory line let alone ones used daily.

Xaccers · 11-08-2008, 04:45

For the 6 months, depending on your insurance, it may have been invalid as your car had been modified (non-manufacturer recommended tyre size) and was not roadworthy (unable to pass a MoT).

LSainsbury · 11-08-2008, 06:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

For the 6 months, depending on your insurance, it may have been invalid as your car had been modified (non-manufacturer recommended tyre size) and was not roadworthy (unable to pass a MoT).

Two good points! Thanks!

papa smurf · 11-08-2008, 20:43

i don't see how this tyre could be illegal , in many modern cars the spare wheel is half the width of the cars normal wheel/ and what you are saying is if you get a puncture and fit the spare your breaking the law /voiding your insurance ,i just cant see it , i think you probably got an inexperienced mot chap/or there's a huge flaw in motor manufacturers thinking ,when they fit cars with a spare that's half the width of the rest of the cars tyres,because of lack of boot space

**Kymmy** · 11-08-2008, 23:56

Tyres have match size/type on the same axle. Emergency space savers are just to get you out of trouble at a reduced speed.