Recorded in
0.9% 26% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 1,005,081 records across 1,980 models.
Tyres → Tyre has a bulge
The Tyre has a bulge MOT failure is recorded in 0.9% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 1,005,081 records across 1,980 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 Tesla Model 3 Performance records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
73%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£45–£95
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Tyre has a bulge means on an MOT
Tyre has a bulge 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 has a bulge. 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 has a bulge on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.9% of every MOT test in our data — 1,005,081 records across 1,980 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Tyre has a bulge in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 1,005,081 records for this item, 26.1% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.7% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 73.2% 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.
- Has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure — 10,230,938 records
- Has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure — 106,715 records
What does it cost to fix Tyre has a bulge?
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 has a bulge most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Tesla Model 3 Performance and Vauxhall Corsa E lead the list: Tesla Model 3 Performance 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 | Tesla Model 3 Performance | 4.3% | 35,917 | — |
| 2 | Vauxhall Corsa E | 3.8% | 24,357 | — |
| 3 | BMW 640 | 3.2% | 33,752 | — |
| 4 | MINI John COOPER Works | 3.0% | 64,665 | 3.3× · year by year → |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz E | 2.5% | 34,256 | — |
| 6 | BMW 330E | 2.5% | 45,574 | — |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz Clc | 2.3% | 33,693 | — |
| 8 | Citroen C3 Picasso | 2.3% | 23,169 | — |
| 9 | BMW 435 | 2.3% | 42,990 | — |
| 10 | Volkswagen Scirocco | 2.2% | 168,457 | 2.4× · year by year → |
| 11 | BMW 520D | 2.2% | 22,113 | — |
| 12 | Lexus IS250 | 2.1% | 33,197 | — |
| 13 | Mercedes-Benz Cls | 2.1% | 82,706 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 14 | BMW 430 | 2.1% | 43,485 | — |
| 15 | Audi A5 | 2.1% | 434,507 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 16 | BMW 218I | 2.0% | 51,907 | — |
| 17 | MINI Clubman | 2.0% | 86,284 | — |
| 18 | Peugeot Rcz | 2.0% | 39,506 | — |
| 19 | Mercedes-Benz Slc | 2.0% | 28,889 | — |
| 20 | Audi A7 | 2.0% | 55,354 | — |
Which years of car record Tyre has a bulge
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.9% |
| 2013 | 0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.9% |
| 2015 | 0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.0% |
| 2017 | 1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.0% |
| 2020 | 1.1% |
| 2021 | 1.2% |
| 2022 | 1.2% |
| 2023 | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 0.4% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2024, 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 has a bulge
How common is Tyre has a bulge on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.9% of all MOT tests — 1,005,081 records across 1,980 models.
Does Tyre has a bulge fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
26.1% of the records for it are a fail, 0.7% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 73.2% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Tyre has a bulge most often?
Tesla Model 3 Performance and Vauxhall Corsa E head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Tesla Model 3 Performance records it on 4.3%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Tyre has a bulge?
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 →