The answer options
- Being bought second-hand
- Having large or deep cuts in the side wallsCorrect
- Being different makes
- Having varied tread patterns
Why that is the answer
Tyres must be kept in a safe and roadworthy condition. Large or deep cuts in the sidewall weaken the tyre structure, risking a dangerous blowout while driving. The Highway Code states that tyres must be free from deep cuts, tears, or bulges. You can legally use different tyre makes, varied tread patterns, or second-hand tyres, provided they meet the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and remain undamaged.
How this comes up in the real test
Questions from safety and your vehicle appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.
The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.
More safety and your vehicle questions
- A vehicle MOT test will include an exhaust emissions test. What is the reason for this?
- Before leaving your vehicle unattended, what should you remove from it?
- How can drivers help the environment?
- How can driving in a fuel-efficient manner help protect the environment?
- How can the volume of traffic on roads be reduced?
- How can you avoid wasting fuel?