2022 KIA Niro 4 + EV Electric · PF71 VFP

The defining story on this Kia Niro is tyre-related rather than a structural or mechanical one, but it culminates in a Dangerous failure recorded on 3 June 2026 that any prospective buyer must take seriously. On that same date the vehicle passed its MOT once the nearside front tyre with a structural sidewall separation was replaced, yet the test still produced two advisories concerning the rear pair: both rear tyres noted as worn close to the legal limit on the inner edge, and both also flagged for slight damage, cracking or perishing. The pattern suggests the rear axle is either under-inflated routinely, suffering from misaligned camber, or simply running on tyres that have aged and worn in service. The earlier tests in June 2024 and June 2025 recorded no defects, so the emergence of these tyre wear and perishing issues within a single annual cycle points to a deterioration rather than a long-standing chronic fault, but it is a deterioration worth investigating before purchase rather than dismissing as routine. Mileage accumulation on this 2022 Niro sits at 30,999 miles from four recorded tests, averaging around 7,750 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of its age and not low enough to raise concerns about prolonged standing or seized brake calipers from disuse. There are no extended gaps between tests and no sudden jumps that would suggest a hidden high-mileage history or an odometer discrepancy. At this rate of usage, the braking system, suspension bushes, and electric drivetrain components should all be within normal service life, and the absence of any brake, suspension, or corrosion advisories across the four tests supports a relatively even wear profile. The only items the MOT examiner has commented on relate to the contact patch with the road, which is a consumable rather than a wear-and-tear symptom on the chassis itself. For a test drive, pay close attention to the rear tyres specifically, because the advisory noted wear concentrated on the inner edge of both rear tyres simultaneously. Inner-edge wear on an axle is a classic indicator of excessive negative camber, and on a torsion-beam rear suspension such as that fitted to the Niro it can also point to weakened trailing arm bushes or a sagging coil spring allowing the wheel to tilt inwards at the top. On the road, listen for any clonking or knocking from the rear over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for vagueness or wandering from the rear end during lane changes, both of which can accompany compromised rear suspension geometry. Inspect the sidewalls of all four tyres in daylight for bulging, cracking, or uneven shoulder wear, and check that the rear pair are the same brand, size, and load rating as the fronts, as mixing patterns or ages can itself accelerate uneven wear. The nearside front that failed on structural separation should already have been replaced to obtain the pass, but confirm the replacement tyre is correctly seated on the rim with no visible bead distortion. Beyond the tyres, this Niro has not produced any advisories relating to brake pipe corrosion, subframe integrity, suspension arm bushes, or any of the items that typically accumulate on older EVs, which is a relatively reassuring signal given the four-year span of records. Nevertheless, because the car is an EV, a pre-purchase inspection should include a check of the 12V auxiliary battery state, as these can fail without warning on Niro EVs and are not flagged in MOT data, and a diagnostic read of any warning lights on the high-voltage system. Test the regenerative braking feel and confirm there is no warning light on the dashboard at start-up. With the dangerous tyre defect already remediated and the rear tyres almost certainly due for replacement, budgeting for a matched pair of quality replacement tyres alongside the purchase is advisable, and a four-wheel alignment check would be prudent to rule out any underlying geometry issue causing the inner-edge wear pattern before the new rubber goes on.