Spare tyre - does it need to be legal?

FunkyT · 6 Mar 2010 at 12:51

I have a spare that is borderline/barely legal - could it be an issue if I was pulled at any stage?

Xez · 6 Mar 2010 at 12:53

The spare tyre does need to be legal.

shauncr91 · 6 Mar 2010 at 12:54

My understanding is that it isn't illegal to not have one but if you do have one, it needs to be legal.

Westyfield2 · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:06

My understanding

When it's in the boot or whatever, it doesn't need to be legal. But when it's being used it is subject to the normal rules.

Spuderoony · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:09

Spare tyre

There is no legal obligation to carry a spare tyre and it does not have to comply with the legal requirements while it is stowed away. However, when fitted to the vehicle (for example, following a puncture) it must then comply with the law. A spare tyre is not a testable item in the MOT test, though the examiner may draw your attention to an unserviceable item as a matter of courtesy.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/legal-advice/tyres.html

loki101 · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:09

needs to be legal for MOT, not that mines ever been checked the amount of suff i have in the boot. (but u don need one for MOT, but of you have one..)

Lopéz · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:10

Xez said:
The spare tyre does need to be legal.

Wrong.

Von Smallhausen · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:11

shauncr91 said:
My understanding is that it isn't illegal to not have one but if you do have one, it needs to be legal.

And you would be quite correct. Ish.

It must be legal when fitted but doesn't have to be when stowed.

Lopéz · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:11

loki101 said:
needs to be legal for MOT, not that mines ever been checked the amount of suff i have in the boot. (but u don need one for MOT, but of you have one..)

Wrong

Lopéz · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:12

The spare must be legal if it is fitted to the car (ie it is fitted to your hub and driving on the road) A spare in the boot or in the spare wheel cage is not considered to be "fitted"

It does not have to be legal if it is in the boot. It is also not part of the MOT test.

PMKeates · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:32

There's nowhere quite like OcUK for misinformation delivered as fact

You just have to think about it - how could you enforce that a spare tyre has to be legal? You could be just transporting an illegal tyre and it would suddenly be deemed "the spare" and you'd be charged!

Berger · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:35

Lopéz said:
A spare in the boot or in the spare wheel cage is not considered to be "fitted"

Good job really, if you can actually get it out of the cage after being stowed under the car for years, its usually illegal due to the cage eating into the side wall over time!

mjt · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:45

What's the point in carrying one if it's illegal anyway :confused:

Tomsk · 6 Mar 2010 at 13:59

mjt said:
What's the point in carrying one if it's illegal anyway

One could be transporting the tyre to a waste disposal facility.

PhillyDee · 6 Mar 2010 at 14:08

mjt said:
What's the point in carrying one if it's illegal anyway

Exactly!

Tomsk said:
One could be transporting the tyre to a waste disposal facility.

Then its not a spare wheel

Its a scrap one!

kaiowas · 6 Mar 2010 at 14:23

mjt said:
What's the point in carrying one if it's illegal anyway

The spare can be useful ballast in the front of an MR2. It's not unknown for people to leave them in on trackdays rather than take it out and upset the weight distribution.

I get around · 6 Mar 2010 at 15:04

No, doesn't have to be legal afaik.

I don't even have a spare, chucked it out because it was an illegal spacesaver, chucked a can of tyre weld in instead.

Vanquish-Storm · 6 Mar 2010 at 15:30

mjt said:
What's the point in carrying one if it's illegal anyway

You could be storing the one you just swapped for you spare?