The shocking truth about part-worn tyres

A total of 18 investigations were carried out across England and Scotland into 68 part-worn tyre traders, all but one of which was supplying tyres which contravened the legislation governing their sale.  Even more concerning was the fact that 75% of the 129 tyres inspected were unsafe.

The findings support TyreSafe’s advice for motorists to think again before buying part-worn tyres, as there is no guarantee they are safe.

“Despite years of appalling results from these investigations into the retail of part worn tyres, these findings still came as a shock,” the Chairman of TyreSafe, Stuart Jackson, said.  “How can it be acceptable that three-quarters of the part-worn tyres offered for sale were unsafe?  Tyres are the only part of car in contact with the road and essential to road safety – selling dangerous examples to unsuspecting motorists is putting lives at risk.

 “The number of dangerous part-worn tyres being sold is no doubt related to the widespread incompetence of the retailers.  With just one of the 68 retailers found to be compliant with the law, surely the part-worn trade must vastly improve its standards before the British motorist can have any confidence in them.

“Until that happens, TyreSafe continues to urge drivers to buy new tyres, to avoid paying a potentially heavy price for choosing to fit unsafe part-worns.”