MoT dilemma

**m8internet** · 31st May 2011, 20:50

Prepared the car for its "official" MoT, due 01 June
Everything looked and tested OK
Rear tyres are about six weeks old
Front tyres are about two weeks old (free from Michelin)

So drove the car to the premises where the MoT will be carried out (closed) and placed it into the parking space

Walked round the car and there is a MASSIVE nail in the offside rear tyre, which I have obviously picked up between home and the MoT premises, between the tread and sidewall, which is also sticking out by about three inches (but not fouling the bodywork)

The obvious answer would be to swap the wheel off prior to the MoT commencing for the spare, however this is one of the models that does not have a spare, so that is not a solution
The next is to order one tyre, but that could be between three and five business days, and to submit the car as it is

I have submitted tyres before with nails in the tread and received advisories
However, not one this obvious!

I have spent some time reading the MoT manual and although it does mention tyre intrusions (nails, etc) I can' find anything definitive that would result in a failure for this

Any ideas?

**markj23** · 31st May 2011, 20:53

pull the nail out and see if it goes down if not no drama if it does it needs a new tyre anyway so order one

**John LE** · 31st May 2011, 20:56

Due to the fact that it would be irrepairable i'm not sure if it may be a fail this time. As you know repairs within the sidewall area are not deemed to be safe so neither would a hole.

Could you pick up 2 steel wheels with good tyres just to get the car through?

Either that or pick up a second hand sri wheel and tyre and use it as a spare after you get the other tyre replaced

**macdad** · 31st May 2011, 20:58

knock the nail in a bit more,and hope the MOT tester doesn't spot it,if he does you'll have to change it anyway or get it repaired,if it passes you'll get it done cheaper.

**Big Sig** · 31st May 2011, 21:06

Paint the head black

**John LE** · 31st May 2011, 21:07

Originally Posted by Big Sig

Paint the head black

and then take it to Kwik Fit for the MOT instead.....they'll never notice

**m8internet** · 31st May 2011, 21:13

Originally Posted by macdad

knock the nail in a bit more,and hope the MOT tester doesn't spot it,if he does you'll have to change it anyway or get it repaired,if it passes you'll get it done cheaper.

As above, the nail is MASSIVE
I did push it in slightly and there is no air loss
However twisting it from side to side and there is air loss

Pushing it further in, such the head is flush with the tyre, the head will be noticeable
It is about the size of a 5p piece

Pulling it will almost instantly end up in a flat tyre
There will then be a hole about 8mm across
Equally, as it is on the seam between the tread and sidewall it is well outside the repairable area (otherwise I would have asked them to repair it prior to MoT)

I don't have access to other similar Vectra wheels at such short notice

**m8internet** · 31st May 2011, 21:15

Originally Posted by john.robertson2

take it to Kwik Fit for the MOT instead.....they'll never notice

As mentioned previously that is where this car has always been MoT
On the last one they failed two tyres for very slight buldges (at the time had tyre insurance and they agreed to pay for one of them)
However, I already had two replacements on order and they were due to arrive the day of the MoT, so gave them an excuse to fail them!
Equally, they have given numerous advisories but never the same two back to back

Sickened at this tyre has only done about 500 miles in six weeks, what a waste of £100

**azacbr6** · 31st May 2011, 21:25

Get a puncture repair kit and repair it yourself it only takes 10 minutes to do and it won't be noticeable at all. I had a puncture on the edge of my rear tyre and all tyre shops refused to repair it so I did it myself and now 5000 miles later I can't even find the repaired spot as the rubber plug faded in the tyre.

**m8internet** · 31st May 2011, 21:30

Originally Posted by azacbr6

Get a puncture repair kit and repair it yourself

There is probably not enough time between the local motor factor opening (that may have such a kit) and the MoT test

Looks like I will be hitting it with a hammer and hoping it doesn't POP (or more likely explosively BANG) out
As above, so long as air is not escaping then an advisory should apply (had them before for nails in the tread)