Common tyre MOT advisory wording
- Tyre worn close to legal limit
- Tyre has cuts, cracking or perishing
- Inner edge or outer edge worn
- Tyre damaged or unevenly worn
What the legal tyre limit is in the UK
For most cars, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the entire circumference. If a tyre is close to that point at MOT time, an advisory is a strong signal that replacement may be near.
What a tyre advisory usually means in practice
In many cases the likely next step is straightforward: replace the tyre on the recorded wheel position. But tyre advisories also reveal other issues. Uneven shoulder wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. Perishing and cracking can suggest age-related deterioration. A damage note may mean the tyre needs immediate inspection even if it scraped through the test.
When a tyre advisory is more urgent
- If the wording says the tyre is close to the legal limit.
- If the tyre shows cuts, bulges, exposed cords, or more serious damage.
- If the car is doing high mileage, motorway mileage, or carrying family passengers regularly.
- If the wear pattern suggests another fault is destroying the tyre prematurely.
What to ask a garage or tyre fitter
- How much tread is actually left in millimetres?
- Is the wear even across the tyre, or is one edge going first?
- Is there evidence of alignment, balancing, or suspension issues?
- Should tyres on the same axle be replaced as a pair?
Why tyre MOT advisories matter for cost
Tyres can look like a simple one-part job, but the wording can change the bill. A single worn tyre is one thing. A tyre plus alignment, or a tyre worn by a suspension issue, is a different conversation. That is why the advisory wording is useful before you start shopping.