Recorded in
9.2% 3% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 10,230,938 records across 2,269 models.
Tyres → Tyre has a tear
The Tyre has a tear MOT failure is recorded in 9.2% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 10,230,938 records across 2,269 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 Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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. Parts only: £55–£85.
What Tyre has a tear means on an MOT
Tyre has a tear 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 tear. 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 tear on an MOT?
Recorded in 9.2% of every MOT test in our data — 10,230,938 records across 2,269 models. That is 9% in every hundred tests, which puts Tyre has a tear among the most items testers record.
Of the 10,230,938 records for this item, 3.3% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.1% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 96.6% 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 bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure — 1,005,081 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 tear?
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.
The part behind the price
Fitted, our bracket is £45–£95. The part itself is £55–£85. The price is mostly the part.
A cut, bulge or tear in the tyre — a structural fault rather than wear. A bulging sidewall means the cords are damaged and the tyre cannot be repaired, whatever the tread depth.
What to buy
One per damaged tyre. A tear on one side of the car usually means something hit it: check the wheel rim for a buckle at the same time, because a bent rim will destroy the new tyre.
| Tier | Brands | Parts price |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Acceptable if the car is local-use only. | Budget and own-brand ranges | £35–£55 |
| Mid-range typical What most tyre bays will quote you first. | Kumho, Falken, Uniroyal, Avon | £55–£85 |
| Premium Stronger sidewalls are the practical argument here. | Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear | £85–£130 |
The premium tier can cost more than the whole typical bracket above. That is not a mistake in either figure: the bracket is a typical job, not a ceiling — and this is the point at which a quote tells you which part the garage is actually fitting.
Fitting it
A tyre bay job: mounting and balancing need the machine. £10–£20 a corner on top of the tyre.
On the retest
The damaged tyre replaced, and no bulge, cut or cord exposed anywhere on the set.
Parts prices are our survey of UK parts prices in 2025 money, for tyre has a tear, and exclude delivery, VAT differences and the fitting — see how these figures are built.
Models that record Tyre has a tear most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Suzuki Wagon-R+ and Vauxhall Viva lead the list: Suzuki Wagon-R+ records it on 17.8% 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 | Suzuki Wagon-R+ | 17.8% | 29,904 | — |
| 2 | Vauxhall Viva | 16.4% | 126,330 | — |
| 3 | Peugeot 108 | 16.2% | 250,169 | — |
| 4 | Peugeot 206 | 16.1% | 175,269 | — |
| 5 | Dacia Sandero | 15.9% | 347,892 | — |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Colt | 15.7% | 86,319 | — |
| 7 | Volkswagen Fox | 15.4% | 104,121 | — |
| 8 | Volkswagen E-Golf | 15.2% | 21,380 | — |
| 9 | Vauxhall Adam | 15.1% | 216,628 | — |
| 10 | Ford Fusion | 15.0% | 197,378 | — |
| 11 | Citroen C1 | 15.0% | 585,817 | — |
| 12 | Vauxhall Agila | 14.8% | 135,177 | — |
| 13 | Nissan Almera | 14.8% | 54,229 | — |
| 14 | Toyota Aygo | 14.5% | 872,727 | — |
| 15 | Mitsubishi Eclipse | 14.4% | 30,000 | — |
| 16 | Kia Picanto | 14.4% | 636,138 | — |
| 17 | Vauxhall Tigra | 14.3% | 26,978 | — |
| 18 | Nissan Micra | 14.3% | 880,356 | — |
| 19 | Vauxhall Meriva | 14.3% | 348,201 | — |
| 20 | Volkswagen Up | 14.2% | 416,420 | — |
Which years of car record Tyre has a tear
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.0% |
| 2011 | 9.7% |
| 2012 | 9.4% |
| 2013 | 9.4% |
| 2014 | 9.2% |
| 2015 | 9.1% |
| 2016 | 9.1% |
| 2017 | 9.5% |
| 2018 | 9.7% |
| 2019 | 8.5% |
| 2020 | 6.2% |
| 2021 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 1.7% |
| 2024 | 0.9% |
| 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 Tyre has a tear
How common is Tyre has a tear on an MOT?
It is recorded in 9.2% of all MOT tests — 10,230,938 records across 2,269 models.
Does Tyre has a tear fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
3.3% of the records for it are a fail, 0.1% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 96.6% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Tyre has a tear most often?
Suzuki Wagon-R+ and Vauxhall Viva head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Suzuki Wagon-R+ records it on 17.8%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Tyre has a tear?
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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