Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance for road safety of encouraging road users to select tyres carefully and fit them correctly, and to pay special attention to maintaining the rear axle of vehicles.

Maintaining tyres in good condition and ensuring they are appropriate for the vehicle, including across the same axle, is important for road safety. The MOT test includes checks to ensure that tyres are in a safe condition, are suitable for the vehicle, and are compatible across an axle. This includes consideration of tyre size and fitment to ensure they are not obviously unsuitable for use. However, it is not a substitute for proper maintenance and correct tyre selection by the user.