What are the consequences of having a wheel that is bent or cracked?

Having a wheel that is bent or cracked poses significant safety risks to both the driver and other road users. A damaged wheel can lead to poor handling, increased tire wear, and even catastrophic tire failure while driving. This results in an unsafe driving condition that is unacceptable for vehicle operation.

In the context of vehicle inspection, safety inspectors must adhere to strict criteria meant to ensure all components of the vehicle, including wheels, are in safe working order. A wheel that is bent or cracked would not meet these safety standards, thus leading to a failure of the inspection. This is in line with regulations aiming to prevent vehicles that could potentially endanger occupants and other road users from being allowed on the road. The summary is that a damaged wheel directly affects the vehicle's operational safety and thus results in failure during inspection.