Does the Mercedes-Benz SL fail the MOT on tyres more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SL records 6.19 tyres failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 8.49 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.30, 95% interval −2.47 to −2.12). It ranks 537 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 Mercedes-Benz SL by registration
What exactly fails on tyres?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SL is “A tyre seriously damaged”, recorded 3,380 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | 3,380 | 3.05 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,710 | 1.54 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,135 | 1.02 |
| A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber | 219 | 0.20 |
| Tyre obviously under inflated | 164 | 0.15 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 110,850 (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 Mercedes-Benz SL gets a tyres advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.8% of Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs with a tyres advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 2,305 miles later (13,554 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,554 (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
Mercedes-Benz SL 1998 · Mercedes-Benz SL 1999 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2000 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2001 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2002 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2003 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2004 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2005 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2006 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2007 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2008 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2009 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2010 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2011 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2012 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2013 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2014 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2015 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2016 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2017 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2018 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2019 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2020 · Mercedes-Benz SL in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz SL by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz SL body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz SL brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz SL vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz SL lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz SL noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz SL road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz SL seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz SL steering failures · Mercedes-Benz SL suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz SL visibility failures