2020 Vauxhall Corsa SRI Turbo 1.2L Petrol · FD70 OUP

Tyre condition and rear brake disc wear dominate this Corsa's recorded history, and the pattern includes one serious episode: in March 2024 the car failed its MOT with a dangerous defect, an offside rear tyre carrying a lump caused by separation or partial failure of its internal structure. That tyre had already been flagged as worn close to the legal limit at 2.0mm in November 2023, so the structural failure developed on a tyre known to be at the end of its life. The car was retested the following day and passed with no defects recorded, indicating the tyre was replaced promptly. Since then the record has been passes only, most recently on 30 January 2026, though that latest test carried three advisories: both front tyres worn close to the legal limit with wear on inner and outer edges, and rear brake discs worn, pitted or scored. The overall trend is one of recurring wear-item advisories rather than structural or corrosion concerns, but the repeated tyre flags across 2023, 2024 and 2026 suggest replacements are being left until the last moment. At 68,278 miles over roughly six years, the car has averaged about 11,380 miles per year, which is typical for its age and consistent with regular mixed use rather than prolonged standing. There are no significant gaps in the annual test sequence, and the mileage accumulation appears steady. This level of use is entirely consistent with the wear items flagged: brake discs and tyres are consumables at this mileage, and nothing in the record points to unusual drivetrain or suspension stress. The recurring theme of tyres worn on both inner and outer edges, now flagged on both front tyres in January 2026, warrants attention beyond simple tread depth. Edge wear on both shoulders can indicate chronic under-inflation or, where it appears alongside other symptoms, geometry issues. On a test drive, check whether the steering wheel sits centred on a straight road, whether the car pulls to one side under braking or cruising, and whether the front tyres show feathering when you run a hand across the tread. Given the 2024 structural tyre failure, a close inspection of all four tyres for sidewall bulges, lumps or uneven wear is essential before purchase, and the front pair will likely need replacing imminently regardless. The rear brake discs have now been advisory items across three consecutive tests, described as worn, pitted or scored though not seriously weakened. Pitting that persists year on year suggests the discs are approaching the end of their serviceable life rather than being an urgent safety item, but a buyer should budget for rear disc and pad replacement. On the test drive, listen for grinding or scraping from the rear under braking, feel for judder through the pedal, and check that the handbrake holds firmly on an incline, since rear disc condition directly affects it. Beyond these items, the absence of any suspension, corrosion, emissions or lighting advisories across five tests is a reasonable sign, but the brake and tyre history means a pre-purchase inspection should concentrate firmly on those areas.