Continental Tyres outline NCT failure concerns

Official statistics from the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) show that in 2024, 
more than 856,000 drivers failed the NCT - just under 50 percent (49.4) of the total 
tests for the year (1.73 million).  
The top reasons for failure of the test in 2024 have remained consistent with results 
from the last few years:                    
1. Steering and suspension (14.9 percent) 
2. Lighting and electrical (14.1 percent) 
3. The ‘side slip test’ which measures how a car can maintain a straight line 
when driven without steering wheel input (12.2 percent) 
4. Tyres and wheels (9.9 percent) 
 
In 2023, a whopping 75,000 cars failed the test because of issues with their tyres 
and wheels.  For 2024, that figure has grown to more than 85,000 cars that were 
failed because of defective tyres. 
Tom Dennigan, head of premium German tyre manufacturer, Continental Tyres 
Ireland, commented: “It is always better to focus on the positive and clearly, we have 
to commend the NCT service in their efforts to keep dangerous or defective cars off 
Ireland’s roads.  Also, we need to recognise the slightly more than 50 percent of 
drivers who maintained their vehicle in a roadworthy state and subsequently passed 
their NCT in 2024.”  
Tom continued, “However, it is hard not to be alarmed at that growth in test failures 
that are attributed to defective tyres, an increase of 10,000 from last year.  We have 
highlighted before that tyres are the easiest element of the test to get right.  Unlike 
the more mechanical elements of a car’s roadworthiness, which generally needs the 
input of a trained technician, a driver can easily check and see if a car’s tyres are fit 
for purpose.  Any driver can carry out a visual examination that will show up any 
obvious problems. However, our advice to motorists is always to regularly have your 
tyres checked at a local tyre dealership where specially trained staff will identify any 
problems before it’s too late. Many tyre outlets will happily provide you with a free 
tyre check ”. 
 
When checking tyres, it is important to check key elements such as tread depth and 
tyre pressure, but it is equally as important to check for bumps, or uneven wear of 
the tyre that, in extreme cases, could lead to a tyre blowout. 
 
Tom concluded: “Notwithstanding the good work of the NCTS, we are still seeing too 
many road traffic collisions where the roadworthiness of a vehicle is a major 
contributory factor. I have no doubt that because of the important part tyres play in 
keeping a car safe on the road and in particular, enabling it to stop safely in an 
emergency situation, defective tyres are a key causal factor in too many collisions. 
The only way for that situation to improve is for drivers to take proper responsibility 
for the roadworthiness of their vehicles and that includes making proper preparations 
when taking the NCT”.