Recorded in
0.8% 98% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 827,756 records across 1,949 models.
Tyres → Tyre cords exposed
The Tyre cords exposed MOT failure is recorded in 0.8% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 827,756 records across 1,949 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
0%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£45–£95
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Tyre cords exposed means on an MOT
Tyre cords exposed 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 tyre cords exposed. 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 Tyre cords exposed on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.8% of every MOT test in our data — 827,756 records across 1,949 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Tyre cords exposed in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 827,756 records for this item, 98.2% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 1.8% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified.
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.
- Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords — 2,800,628 records
- Has ply or cords damaged — 37,817 records
What does it cost to fix Tyre cords exposed?
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 Tyre cords exposed most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Mercedes-Benz Eqc and Tesla Model 3 Performance lead the list: Mercedes-Benz Eqc records it on 4.7% 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 | 4.7% | 24,449 | — |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 Performance | 4.4% | 35,917 | — |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 4.3% | 36,525 | — |
| 4 | Tesla Model X | 3.7% | 20,553 | — |
| 5 | Polestar Polestar | 2.3% | 21,453 | — |
| 6 | Tesla Model 3 | 2.3% | 169,765 | — |
| 7 | BMW M4 | 2.1% | 36,847 | — |
| 8 | SEAT Alhambra | 2.1% | 97,258 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 9 | Audi E-Tron | 2.0% | 25,279 | — |
| 10 | Volkswagen E-Golf | 2.0% | 21,380 | — |
| 11 | Volvo V50 | 1.9% | 120,069 | — |
| 12 | Volvo C70 | 1.9% | 29,334 | — |
| 13 | Volkswagen ID3 | 1.8% | 34,425 | — |
| 14 | Volkswagen Touran | 1.8% | 272,345 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 15 | Ford Grand C-Max | 1.8% | 131,861 | — |
| 16 | Mercedes-Benz Cls | 1.7% | 82,706 | — |
| 17 | Ford Focus C-Max | 1.7% | 56,718 | — |
| 18 | BMW 330E | 1.7% | 45,574 | — |
| 19 | Renault Zoe | 1.7% | 48,129 | — |
| 20 | Fiat Fiorino | 1.7% | 31,353 | — |
Which years of car record Tyre cords exposed
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.9% |
| 2013 | 0.8% |
| 2014 | 0.8% |
| 2015 | 0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.7% |
| 2017 | 0.6% |
| 2018 | 0.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5% |
| 2020 | 0.6% |
| 2021 | 0.9% |
| 2022 | 1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.6% |
| 2024 | 0.5% |
| 2025 | 0.1% |
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 Tyre cords exposed
How common is Tyre cords exposed on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.8% of all MOT tests — 827,756 records across 1,949 models.
Does Tyre cords exposed fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
98.2% of the records for it are a fail, 1.8% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 0.0% are advisories. In short, it is a fail (Major or Dangerous) most of the time.
Which cars record Tyre cords exposed most often?
Mercedes-Benz Eqc and Tesla Model 3 Performance head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Mercedes-Benz Eqc records it on 4.7%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Tyre cords exposed?
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.
All 83 common MOT failures → Repair cost list → Failed your MOT? What now →