A survey carried out by TyreSafe found that up to 98% of used tyres sold in Britain did not comply with the regulations, while 34 per cent could be considered dangerous. However, even a tyre that does satisfy the regulations could be harbouring a nasty secret, whereas a brand new tyre will not.
It is also the case that second-hand tyres will not last as long as new tyres. You’ll have to replace them much more often, so the savings will be less substantial than they might first appear.
A new tyre might have as much as 8mm of tread, whereas a part-worn might only have a quarter of that. It’ll therefore only be fit for a few hundred miles and will need replacing before long.
In addition, during a government investigation, it was found that 85% of part-worn tyres were non-compliant as they were incorrectly marked. Some 11% of part-worn tyres were found to be over ten years old.
Here are a few more problems the investigation into part-worn tyres found:
- Some tyres had cuts in the primary tread area, which were deep enough to expose the metal cords
- Tyres fitted incorrectly, with the outside sidewall of the tyre fitted to the inside of the wheel rim
- Abnormal bulges in one of the side walls
- Repairs that did not conform to British Standard, including a “string” type plug which does not form a permanent seal and may not be secure
- Hard objects penetrating the tyres
Alternatives to part-worn tyres
In years gone by remoulded tyres, or retreaded tyres, were a popular solution. Remoulds are still legal in the UK, as long as they comply with strict regulations, and if manufactured with care they needn’t be significantly less safe than new tyres.
Retreading a tyre involves stripping the tread and sidewall from a used tyre (the structure of which should be in good condition) and applying new rubber to the carcass. As budget tyres from the Far East have become more commonplace, though, remoulded tyres have accordingly become less popular.
Should I buy part-worn tyres?
If we could guarantee that part-worn tyres were completely safe and compliant with the regulations, there’d be little reason to be wary of them. However, as those TyreSafe figures demonstrate, there are no such assurances.
