The question most part worn tyre purchasers don't ask is......... why would another motorist elect to change a perfectly good serviceable tyre? The answer is - they don't.

We all wear our own tyres down to a minimum depth before replacement unless something occurs to the tyre to prevent that happening. Fact. 

In general, the only reasons tyres are replaced prematurely will be due to damage, age, irrepairable punctures or lack of performance due to reduced tread depth.

Part worn sellers will often spin up all sorts of elaborate stories of how they have come about their own tyres from high quality sources etc. They seem to have found a huge pool of people who needlessly replace their perfectly good tyres?

The reality is, as has been proven by a Trading Standards Survey, that an alarming 1 in 3 part worn tyres purchased were found to be defective.

Where a consumer believes they are making an informed decision to save money, they are, in effect very often buying unsafe, scrap products or paying a disproportionate sum for a tyre which is already heavily worn, too old, or carrying significant repair.

What are the requirements that part worn sellers MUST adhere to:

Tread:

The grooves of the original tread pattern of the tyre must be a depth of at least 2mm across the full breadth of tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre. With this in mind, it’s worth considering that the legal limit is 1.6mm, with recommendations that you change at 3mm!

Part worn sellers will often often product with 3mm of tread remaining. However, this equates to only a usable 1.4mm - most of which is already ineffective in wet conditions.

Part worn tyres must NOT have any of the following defects:

Any cuts bigger than 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre – measured on the outside and deep enough to reach the ply or cord

Any internal lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial separation of the structure

Any of the ply or cord exposed internally or externally

Any penetration damage which has not been repaired

Repairs:

Traders are allowed to sell part-worn tyres that have been repaired, but the repairs must have been carried out to the required BS AU standard.

Marking:

Immediately next to the “BS AU” mark, it must bear the words ‘PART-WORN’ in capital letters at least 4mm high, and it must be permanently and legibly applied to the tyre.

If a Trader supplies an illegal part-worn tyre:

It is a criminal offence to supply (which includes offering, agreeing, exposing or possessing for supply), a part-worn tyre which does not meet the requirements. Any trader breaching the controls is liable to prosecution. The maximum fine is £5000 and/or 6 months imprisonment. In addition offending tyres are liable to be seized.

While economic times are challenging for everyone, please take extreme caution when considering paying for a used product. Question why it is now available and look for the age of the tyre and any repair work BEFORE it is fitted.

And remember, cheap new tyres are plentiful and offer infinitely more safety than someones elses cast offs.

Call Ravi from Hometyre West London for a quote today - 020 8914 8294 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            020 8914 8294      end_of_the_skype_highlighting