§ Mr. GregoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicles in each of the last three years failed the MOT test because of inadequate tyre tread; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyInadequate tread is one of the tyre defects that can lead to a test failure and is not separately recorded. Tyre failure figures during annual tests for the last three years, based on a 2 per cent. sample return from testing stations are:
Number 1985 1,249,822 1986 1,525,449 1987 1,862,980 In addition to inadequate tread, the tyre failure statistics include several other reasons for failure. These include lumps, bulges or tears caused by structural deterioration, a tyre with a cut which reaches the ply or cord, a tyre which is fouling on any part of the vehicle and a tyre which is of a different nominal size or structure type from the other which is on the same axle.