Does the Smart Roadster fail the MOT on tyres more than it should?
The Smart Roadster records 5.84 tyres failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 10.49 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.65, 95% interval −5.23 to −4.07). It ranks 683 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 Smart Roadster by registration
What exactly fails on tyres?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Smart Roadster is “A tyre seriously damaged”, recorded 293 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | 293 | 2.45 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 190 | 1.59 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 70 | 0.58 |
| A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely to cause sudden deflation of the tyre | 51 | 0.43 |
| A tyre not fitted in compliance with the manufacturers sidewall instruction | 38 | 0.32 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 11,977 (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 Smart Roadster gets a tyres advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.5% of Smart Roadster MOTs with a tyres advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.3 months and 2,223 miles later (1,498 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,498 (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
Smart Roadster 2003 · Smart Roadster 2004 · Smart Roadster 2005 · Smart Roadster 2006 · Smart Roadster 2007 · Smart Roadster in the Netherlands · Smart Roadster by postcode area · Smart Roadster body, chassis and structure failures · Smart Roadster brakes failures · Smart Roadster vehicle identification failures · Smart Roadster lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Smart Roadster noise, emissions and leaks failures · Smart Roadster road wheels failures · Smart Roadster seat belts and airbags failures · Smart Roadster steering failures · Smart Roadster suspension failures · Smart Roadster visibility failures