Van operators who receive tyre advisories at MOT should treat them as a warning requiring action, according to analysis released by TyreSafe.
Its figures suggest a substantial difference in the likelihood of a dangerous tyre defect at the following test, underlining the value of maintenance records and regular checks between annual inspections.
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.
Read our What you need to know about van tyres guide
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.
The warning is often there in advance. 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.
Read our guide to What is overloading in a van?
The stakes are high for business. There are 4.89 million vans licensed in the UK, and they cover around one mile in every six driven on Britain's roads.
About one in five vehicles involved in a collision while being driven for work is a van. Employers have a legal duty to manage the risks of work-related driving, and a van off the road means missed jobs and lost income.
