Flat spot on tyre - MOT fail?

[.Chris.]

Tl;dr - will a flat spot on a tyre (from sitting deflated) cause an MOT failure?

I'm currently recommissioning a Honda Rebel 250 that's been sat for some while. Exactly how long, I'm not quite sure - possibly a decade if it ceased to be used when the last tax disc expired. When it came to me, both tyres were deflated but I pumped them up and they've stayed inflated fine. However on close inspection both tyres have potential problems.

The front tyre is quite badly distorted so I presume it needs replacing. Fortunately I have a new tyre of the correct size left over from my GN400, so that can replace the duff one.

The rear is a bit more of a grey area - it sits on the rim fine and at first glance has no defects. However when the wheel is spun, it's apparent that the tyre has a flat spot at one point. I presume this is from where the wheel has sat on the deflated tyre.

A couple of questions - is this likely to result in an MOT failure? The manual lists 'lumps, bulges or tears caused by separation or partial failure of its structure' as a reason for failure - would a flat spot like this be included in that?

I only ask as I'm not sure whether I'm going to keep the bike or sell it on for a bit of a profit after getting it MOTd. A new rear tyre would be between £40 and £65 depending on manufacturer, plus about another £10 for fitting and potentially the same again for an inner tube. All of which would eat into any eventual profit.

If I did have to replace it, what would people recommend? The tyre is a 130/90-15, and the new front will be a Continental Conti-Go. Oponeo (a website i've used before) have various options including a Maxxis M6103 Promaxx, Heidenau K65, Metzeler ME77 or a Bridgestone Exedra Max (which is Bridgestone's replacement for the OE tyre). Does anyone have any experience with any of these?
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[evoboy]

It would be considered a 'defect' most likely.

It flat spot would become apparent when the tester puts the bike on the roller brake and the wheel is spun.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[Snod Blatter]

Heidenau K65s are amazingly grippy but they don't have enough tread cuts to work well as a fatter rear tyre in my opinion. Truly great as a skinny front though, let you get away with murder.

Metzeler ME77 grips very well, makes the bike feel like it's cornering on rails when new. Tyre life isn't the best (probably thanks to all the tread cuts) but safe and good in the wet. Also cheap, highly recommended.

I see there's also the Pirelli City Demon in that size, a long lasting tyre but no grip and very squirmy in the wet because there are hardly any cuts, like the Heidenau. Not recommended.

I haven't tried the other tyres but can't imagine they'd be better than the ME77.
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1994 CB250, 1984 CBX250RS-E, 1989 K100RS, 1995 TRX850, 2016 Z250SL

[mentalboy]

Why not look at secondhand tyres if you are moving it on (if there are any in those sizes)?
Even if the MOT man let it go I should imagine that the bike would handle like shite with a flat spot.
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Make mine a Corona.

[Ariel Badger]

Even if it was not a fail why would you consider using it?
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Rogerborg]

[evoboy]

[.Chris.]

[Rogerborg]

[bikenut]

bike been sat for 10 years or more!!

if sat on its wheels, ie not on a centre stand, then both tyres will have "cracks" where they have been sat on the ground, which may be very dangerous when inflated............and you are gunna ride this bike?? on the road with the rest of us!!

invest in some new tyres would be the wise thing to do....... :karma:

we use maxxis c906/c907 range and find them very good, especially for the money.

if the brake pads are "peeling" would you replace them??

mot is a basic safety check, for your machine and other road users.
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nuts about bikes

[mudcow007]

weird, ive seen the rollers on car brake test but not for bikes

my test place users a winch thingy - basically, apply brakes an cable is attached around the front of the bike an tries to drag it forward

[Nemo]

Take it to an mot place that offers free re-test, if it passes wohoo, if not, get tyre and re-test for nothing.
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Previously owned: Kawasaki KH125, Suzuki GP125, Suzuki GX 125, Honda CB125 TDC '83, Honda ntv 600, Kawasaki ER5, Kawasaki ZZR600, Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille
Now own: Ducati 848 evo

[Bezzer]

[davebike]

We (the mot place I use and I) chanced to look this over Yesterday

Not a fail unless tester considers it dangerous but it is testers descression
My guy would fail an old tyre with a deformity as it is lightly to fail

He put a warning on a customers bike as the front tyre had a repair that seemed to be causing a deformity

Picked up on check over not on the roller brake test !!
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[.Chris.]

Bit of an update.

Took the front wheel and tyre in to be changed today. Whilst I was doing that I had a quick chat with one of the mechanics and he reckoned that a flat spot would only be a fail if really bad - otherwise pass and advise.

It's surprisingly difficult to capture the problem on camera - this is probably my best attempt. Hopefully that won't count as 'really bad' but we'll see.

After fitting the new chain yesterday I took the bike out for a quick spin to warm the oil up before a change and was quite pleasantly surprised by the ride. Does feel a little odd maneuvering at low speed - I've never ridden a cruiser before so presumably this is a consequence of the fork angle and wide, highish bars. There was more power than I was expecting - certainly better than how I remember my old CD250U, which has a very similar engine. Therefore I'm starting to lean towards keeping the bike, in which case I'll probably stick a new rear tyre on it at some point anyway.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Nemo]

I don't think it'll fail on tyre condition, but might give some false readings on the brake tester (if they use the roller kind).
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Previously owned: Kawasaki KH125, Suzuki GP125, Suzuki GX 125, Honda CB125 TDC '83, Honda ntv 600, Kawasaki ER5, Kawasaki ZZR600, Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille
Now own: Ducati 848 evo

[.Chris.]

Final update - passed MOT without even so much as an advisory! Seems to handle OK too. Nevertheless I've ordered a replacement which will be fitted next week.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F