Recorded in
2.3% 2% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 2,516,634 records across 2,208 models.
Tyres → Tread pattern not visible
The Tread pattern not visible MOT failure is recorded in 2.3% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 2,516,634 records across 2,208 models. A typical repair costs £45–£95. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Mercedes-Benz Eqc records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
97%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£45–£95
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Tread pattern not visible means on an MOT
Tread pattern not visible is an MOT inspection item in the tyres section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when tread pattern not visible. How serious it is — fail, minor or advisory — comes from the tester's grading in the DVSA record, not from this page.
How common is Tread pattern not visible on an MOT?
Recorded in 2.3% of every MOT test in our data — 2,516,634 records across 2,208 models. That is 2% in every hundred tests, which puts Tread pattern not visible in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 2,516,634 records for this item, 2.4% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.3% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 97.3% are advisories that did not fail the car.
Other things testers write about this item
Testers do not all write the same thing. These are the exact DVSA strings from the records for this item, each with how many tests it was written on — the page's keyword vocabulary comes straight from them.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm — 19,339,175 records
What does it cost to fix Tread pattern not visible?
A typical repair on this item costs £45–£95 at UK prices, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. The bracket is our estimate from reported prices and parts, rather than a DVSA figure — see how it is built on the method page.
How the price brackets are built · full repair cost list · add it to your fail-sheet total.
Models that record Tread pattern not visible most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Mercedes-Benz Eqc and Honda Fr-V lead the list: Mercedes-Benz Eqc records it on 4.3% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
| # | Model | Rate | Tests | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-Benz Eqc | 4.3% | 24,449 | — |
| 2 | Honda Fr-V | 3.7% | 27,466 | — |
| 3 | Volkswagen Touran | 3.7% | 272,345 | — |
| 4 | Chevrolet Captiva | 3.6% | 23,583 | — |
| 5 | Volkswagen Cc | 3.5% | 50,350 | — |
| 6 | Ford S-Max | 3.4% | 276,065 | — |
| 7 | Ford Grand C-Max | 3.4% | 131,861 | — |
| 8 | Levc Tx | 3.4% | 33,816 | — |
| 9 | Tesla Model Y | 3.4% | 36,525 | — |
| 10 | Tesla Model X | 3.4% | 20,553 | — |
| 11 | Ford Focus C-Max | 3.3% | 56,718 | — |
| 12 | Citroen DS4 | 3.3% | 40,514 | — |
| 13 | Ford Galaxy | 3.3% | 225,566 | — |
| 14 | SEAT Alhambra | 3.2% | 97,258 | — |
| 15 | BMW 525 | 3.2% | 46,357 | — |
| 16 | Tesla Model 3 | 3.2% | 169,765 | — |
| 17 | Volvo V50 | 3.2% | 120,069 | — |
| 18 | Volkswagen Sharan | 3.2% | 126,447 | — |
| 19 | Renault Grand Scenic | 3.2% | 83,873 | — |
| 20 | Fiat Bravo | 3.2% | 20,488 | — |
Which years of car record Tread pattern not visible
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.6% |
| 2011 | 2.6% |
| 2012 | 2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.4% |
| 2014 | 2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.2% |
| 2016 | 2.1% |
| 2017 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.0% |
| 2019 | 2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.9% |
| 2022 | 2.0% |
| 2023 | 1.4% |
| 2024 | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 0.3% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2025, not year of test, so the curve mostly reflects age — a recent car has barely been to a test station. Compare models at the same age instead.
Frequently asked questions about Tread pattern not visible
How common is Tread pattern not visible on an MOT?
It is recorded in 2.3% of all MOT tests — 2,516,634 records across 2,208 models.
Does Tread pattern not visible fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
2.4% of the records for it are a fail, 0.3% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 97.3% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Tread pattern not visible most often?
Mercedes-Benz Eqc and Honda Fr-V head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Mercedes-Benz Eqc records it on 4.3%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Tread pattern not visible?
Typically £45–£95 fitted, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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