Exposed wheels and tyres

[Sputnik II]

I saw someone driving a VW Beetle with no wings on the M25 yesterday, It's got me thinking if it's legal.
Surely it can't be road legal, if the road was wet the water spray would be bad.

 

[paradigm]

AFAIK, by law road-going vehicles have to have their wheels under cover. Hence why most locost style kit cars have arches over their front wheels (even if they arent part of the bodywork).

EDIT:

Like this:

 

[Stonedofmoo]

Yeah, must be covered to pass the MOT

 

[Sputnik II]

Yeah, must be covered to pass the MOT

That is what I thought.

 

[penski]

The tread must be covered at the apex of the tyre.

But arches are minging on volksrods so fit them for the MOT then take them off again.

*n

 

[Raumarik]

Pretty sure the police can pull you over for not having them covered

 

[Tesla]

I thought the widest part of the car has to be part of the chassis/a panel. In other words the tyres are not allowed to basically stick out so I guess in answer to the the OP it was illegal.

 

[D4VE]

Pretty sure the police can pull you over for not having them covered

yeah I would have thought so, and a retest could be ordered. If they caught you again without arches after the retest it would all be documented on the computer and you'd be in real trouble.

 

[olv]

The tread must be covered at the apex of the tyre.

But arches are minging on volksrods so fit them for the MOT then take them off again.

*n

To pass the SVA test, the arch must be wider than the wheel rim at the widest part afaik, not just the tyre.

 

[penski]

This is why my new car will have two sets of wheels - 15x6 Golf G60 winter steels painted satin black and my 15x10 beasts for when I want to show off.

*n

 

[woodsy]

Pretty sure the police can pull you over for not having them covered

Yep its 3 points and £60 fine