2017 Audi A3 1.5L Petrol · NG17 RWF

A chronic pattern of rear tyre deterioration has been the defining feature of this Audi A3's MOT record. From 2023 through 2025, every annual test has flagged cracking or perishing on both rear tyres, with the 2024 test additionally noting that the rear brake pads were wearing thin. Despite these recurring advisories, the vehicle has passed every test since 2020, including the most recent examination on 9 January 2026 which recorded no defects at all. The repetition of identical advisory categories year after year points to either an ongoing issue with tyre ageing on the rear axle, possibly linked to low usage and prolonged standing, or a pattern of tyres being run until they perish rather than being proactively swapped at the first sign of sidewall deterioration. The 2024 brake pad advisory is a separate but related concern, indicating that the rear braking components were approaching their replacement threshold at that point and will likely need attention again. With 41,293 miles recorded over nine years, this A3 has averaged roughly 4,588 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age and class. The annual MOT entries reflect fairly consistent testing with no significant gaps in the record, suggesting the car has been in regular use and on the road throughout the period covered, albeit covering relatively short distances. Low annual mileage of this nature generally reduces wear on high-mileage components such as the clutch, drivetrain and major service items, but it does place greater demand on components that suffer from ageing rather than wear, including rubber tyres, brake hoses, suspension bushes, coolant hoses, and the 12V battery. The fact that tyre perishing has been flagged repeatedly is a textbook example of this low-usage ageing effect, as tyres degrade through exposure and time even when tread depth remains adequate. For a prospective buyer, the immediate mechanical priority should be a thorough inspection of all four tyres, not merely the rears. Sidewall cracking and perishing can develop internally as well as on the visible surface, so any tyres older than five years from their manufacture date should be viewed with suspicion regardless of tread depth. The previous advisories also warrant a careful check of the rear braking system: with the rear pads noted as wearing thin in 2024 and the car having covered further mileage since, the buyer should inspect pad thickness directly, examine the rear brake discs for scoring or lipping, and verify that the calipers are not seizing, particularly on a vehicle that has seen relatively light use where binding can develop unnoticed. On a test drive, attention should be directed at the suspension, as low-mileage cars are prone to dry bush deterioration rather than worn-linkage knock. Listen for clonking or knocking from the front and rear over uneven roads, particularly clunks over speed humps that could indicate worn anti-roll bar bushes or drop links. The steering should be checked for vagueness or pulling, and the front tyres examined for uneven inner or outer edge wear, which would indicate alignment or suspension geometry issues given the 2020 advisories noted edge wear on both front tyres. Finally, the braking system should be evaluated for pedal feel and effectiveness, looking out for any judder under heavy braking that would suggest warped rear discs, and confirming the handbrake holds firmly on an incline given the predominantly low-speed, short-journey usage pattern that this vehicle appears to have been subjected to.