2009 Mazda MX-5 2.0L Petrol · MX05 WAT

The most recent MOT from October 2025 shows the car passed with a nearside front tyre defect noted. The tyre has slight cracking or perishing on the outer sidewall. A clear pattern emerges with front tyre sidewall damage recurring across multiple tests. Both front tyres showed cracking in October 2024 and again in October 2022. The rear brake pads were already showing 40% wear down to 60% remaining thickness in October 2022. The condition trend appears to be worsening. The tyre defects have persisted across three MOTs over three years, suggesting ongoing deterioration rather than improvement. What started as issues with both front tyres has now settled to the nearside front, though this may simply reflect which tyres were replaced. At 17 years old with just 27,103 miles, this represents very light use at approximately 1,594 miles annually. Low annual mileage often means extended periods of standing, which particularly affects rubber components like tyres.