Wheels 'a common factor' in bike MOT failure
Date: 28/02/2008 12:00:00
Many UK bikers may have found that they need to claim on their motorcycle insurance as a result of badly worn tyres, with wheels being a common reason for MOT failures.
A study by the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) has shown that wheels are the fourth most common reason for a motorcycle failing its MOT, behind lights, brakes and suspension.
Almost 5,000 bikes failed the test between 2007 and 2008 for this reason, compared with almost 1,700 the previous year, the figures show.
In response, motoring organisation TyreSafe has announced that March will mark Bike Tyre Safety Month.
"With a minimal contact patch keeping the rider on the road, tyres which are not properly maintained can affect handling, cornering and the ability for the bike to achieve an optimum balance for the rider," the organisation warned.
Last month, TyreSafe advised bikers to check their vehicles for problems if they had been kept in storage over the cold months.