Tyres can prematurely age if the vehicle is left outside and not used regularly. UV light is one of the key causes of premature tyre age, with direct sunlight causing the tyres to crack over a long period of time. If the cracking is serious (and has the potential to affect the stability of the tyre) then the car will fail the MoT.

A tyre should last longer than three years, but Ii might be worth looking at the date of the tyres' manufacturer (this will be on the sidewall) as some dealers have been known to fit older tyres to a car before selling it: good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/tyres/tyre-date...d