Trade association calls for complete ban on sale of part worn tyres

Motorists are risking their lives as 97 per cent of part worn tyres are illegal

Trade association calls for complete ban on sale of part worn tyres
Motorists have been warned that cutting back on costs also means cutting back on safety. Image: Bigstock.

The National Tyres Distributors Association (NTDA) has called for a ban on the sale of all used tyres.

While 65 per cent of motorists admit to buying part-worn tyres as they are the cheapest option, sometimes costing as little as ten pound where new tyres which can cost over £40 each, the NTDA has said that part worn tyres may pose a serious threat to road users.

More than forty per cent of vehicle defect-related deaths in the UK during 2015 were caused by illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres, and part worn tyres may come with serious safety breaches such as dangerous or unsafe repairs, exposed cords, bead damage and runflat damage.

Chief executive of the NTDA, Stefan Hay, said: “It’s incredibly alarming that so many motorists are choosing to purchase part-worn tyres because they are cheap, despite the distinct possibility that these could be illegal, putting themselves and other road users’ lives in grave danger.”

Buy cheap, buy twice

According to the NTDA, a typical part-worn tyre will have around 3mm of tread, providing around 4,000 miles of motoring before it reaches the legal minimum of 1.6mm, whereas a new tyre with 8mm of tread will provide 18,000 miles before reaching the minimum thickness.

This means that drivers who exclusively buy part-worn tyres will end up paying more, as they are legally required to replaced them 4.5 times more on average than those who buy tyres new.

A study by TyreSafe found that 98 per cent of used tyres were not correctly marked as ‘part worn’ while 16 per cent had not been repaired to the required standard; a further two percent still had an object penetrating the tyre.

“The current regulations are not working and we are seeing more and more illegal tyres being fitted to cars as drivers are swayed by cost alone.

“That is why we are calling, in the absence of greater enforcement of the regulations or an effective form of industry self-regulation, for a complete ban on part-worn tyres.

“Unless drastic action is taken now we are going to see the casualty and death toll rise as a result of illegal and defective tyres.”

To sign the petition calling for a ban on part worn tyres, click ‘more details’ below.

Do you sell part-worn tyres? Do your agree with a complete ban on the sale of part-worns? leave your comments and experiences below.

8 Comments

  1. Part worn tyres are so dangerous. We take more tyres off that are down to cord / wire than ever before . The public just dont care about the consequences of their tyres . We fit about 500-600 tyres a week and out of that more than 79% are illegal or very dangerous

    Reply
  2. what an absolute load of rubbish, impossible to police it,plenty of used tyres with 6mm on, they have let 40 year old vehicles mot exempt, & come up with this load of rubbish, some plonker sat in an office trying to justify his job, whith no idea of the real world

    Reply
  3. Ok, I could rant on for ages about this subject but let me just point out one thing.
    All used cars have 4 used tyres!

    Reply
    • I totally agree with the ban of part worn tyres people who sell them will and do not worry weather the tyre is defective or not all they want is the customers money and no regard for the innocent person that has been killed because the person that had dodgy tyres fitted to his car has killed a innocent person.
      This is false economy for the customer because they are buying twice maybe 3 times to a new tyre.
      Customers should budget for their cars maintenance then they would not have to buy part worn tyres then they would be no call for part worn tyres and tyre garages would give up trying to sell them, a used car for sale yes will have used tyres but safe used tyres and not something somebody remembered was in a skip and dug it out for quick backander
      Perhaps when the garage that is selling them gets sued people may then start to listen when its to late of course.

      Reply
  4. had a 3 year old lexus in for mot 1 tyre 11 years old 1 tyre 10 years old owner had just bought car from second car dealer. also AXA insurance will not insure under a trade insurance to fit part worn or remould tyres be aware of the risks involved

    Reply
  5. when changing tyres cut the side walls so they cannot be used again stop Germany and other European countries dumping their rubbish here.

    Reply
  6. If you buy a used car, do you immediately need to buy new tyres all round as the tyres are now used/part worn/2nd hand? I don’t think so. So what is the difference between buying a complete vehicle and just buying the tyres 2nd hand?

    Reply
    • Ashley the idea is that going too a garage and having part worns fitted , ive just bought a 66 plate evoque and the 2 rear tyres are defective as sidewall damage but i wouldnt fit a part worn also our garage insurannce NIG will not allow me too fit part worn or remoulds we are trading standards approved trust my garage RMI and IMI also FSB registered

      Reply

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