Vans given a tyre advisory at their MOT are almost twice as likely to have a dangerous tyre defect when they come back for their next test, according to new TyreSafe analysis of DVSA MOT data.
Around one in 14 vans with a tyre advisory (7.0%) had a dangerous tyre defect at their next MOT, compared with around one in 28 (3.6%) of vans without one.
For large vans of 3–3.5 tonnes, the risk doubles: 6.3% against 3.0%. The gap remains after allowing for the age of the vehicle.
Of the nearly 27,600 vans given a tyre advisory in February 2024, more than 1,900 returned in February 2025 with a tyre defect graded Dangerous. DVSA's advice for a dangerous defect is that the vehicle should not be driven until it has been repaired.
Around three in ten van tyre failures had been flagged with a tyre advisory at the vehicle's previous MOT.
At the roadside, tyres are the most common reason DVSA takes action against a van. In April to June 2026, tyre condition was the top prohibition defect for vans, recorded against 22.7% of vans inspected. DVSA targets vans it suspects are overloaded or unroadworthy, so this is not a rate for all vans, but it shows how often neglected tyres stop a working vehicle.
Charity TyreSafe is therefore urging fleets to act on early warnings. Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said: "An MOT tyre advisory is an early warning, and our analysis shows it is a reliable one. Vans that get one are almost twice as likely to have a dangerous tyre a year later. That is a risk to the driver, to everyone around them, and to the business that depends on that van.
"Fleet managers already have this information on the MOT certificate. The fix is simple: treat every tyre advisory as a job with a deadline, and make sure drivers ACT on their tyres every day."
Tyresafe is using fleets to log every tyre advisory and give it a repair or re-inspection date, not leave it until the next MOT.
Then confirm the tyre has been replaced or re-checked, and keep a record.
Fleets should also build tyres into daily walkaround checks, with a clear way for drivers to report a problem.
