Well the question actually applies to the situation where you have an MOT appointment and no grace period after, but to get a damaged tyre replaced isn't going to happen before that appointment. Does the car go from being legal running on the space-save before the MOT, to illegal by not passing the MOT (not presented, or presented with odd tyre sizes) and therefore not useable until the replacement standard tyre is available and another MOT appointment booked?
A vehicle presented with a space saver tyre is a definite fail!
So don't get an unrepairable puncture right before the MOT is due, as you then can't use the car (except to have the tyre exchanged on the way to a booked MOT), whereas if the MOT wasn't due between the puncture occuring and the replacement tyre available, you can legally use the car, subject to restrictions on speed and mileage.
Fair point well made! I stand corrected in my previous assumption.
I definitely have sympathy for that scenario. Our previous car, Mercedes-AMG GLS, had a tyre size for its 21” alloy wheels that was hardly ever in stock anywhere. Especially not in MO specification. It was a right pain when we had a puncture. And once, on a axle that was changed just 1,000 miles ago, I had to change all four as no one could supply those tyres. A right pain that was for otherwise a good car.
I bet an MOT station wouldn’t have minded if I had non matching tyres on this always 4x4 performance vehicle data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 I prefer safety and predictability.