MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Ford Escort fail the MOT on tyres more than it should?

The Ford Escort records 4.67 tyres failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.33 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.66, 95% interval −0.82 to −0.50). It ranks 373 of 751 models on tyres (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on tyres · check a Ford Escort by registration

What exactly fails on tyres?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Escort is “Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements”, recorded 1,217 times in 2019–2024.

Ford Escort: most frequent tyres defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements1,2171.57
A tyre seriously damaged1,1371.47
A tyre cords visible or damaged4950.64
A tyre not fitted in compliance with the manufacturers sidewall instruction2090.27
Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes1530.20

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 77,294 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

If a Ford Escort gets a tyres advisory, how often does it fail next time?

8.5% of Ford Escort MOTs with a tyres advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 1,528 miles later (5,878 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,878 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Ford Escort 1998 · Ford Escort 1999 · Ford Escort 2000 · Ford Escort 2001 · Ford Escort 2002 · Ford Escort in the Netherlands · Ford Escort by postcode area · Ford Escort body, chassis and structure failures · Ford Escort brakes failures · Ford Escort vehicle identification failures · Ford Escort lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Ford Escort noise, emissions and leaks failures · Ford Escort road wheels failures · Ford Escort seat belts and airbags failures · Ford Escort steering failures · Ford Escort suspension failures · Ford Escort visibility failures