UK tire study reveals “horrific” results

Colchester, UK – Thousands of drivers are being exposed to frightening levels of risk through the purchase of second hand tyres that fail to meet minimum safety standards, a study, co-ordinated by TyreSafe and the National Tyre Distributors Association has found.

Carried out in conjunction with trading standards offices and local councils, the study analysed partly worn tires bought in mystery shopper exercises during the last year.

Of the 817 tires examined, 34 percent were found to contain faults or damage, which meant that they should not have been offered for sale. More worryingly, 97 percent had not been marked by retailers as 'part-worn' as is required by law.

Among the faults found by the independent inspectors assessing the tires were dangerous puncture repairs, exposed cords, damaged beads, penetration damage and evidence of being run under-inflated, all items which could pose a potential safety hazard to the user and other motorists.

The results of the investigation are “truly horrific," according to Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe - a UK tire safety organisations, focused on raising awareness about the dangers associated with defective or illegal tires.

"Your safety on the road is reliant on the condition of your tires,” he said. “So it is essential that retailers only offer for sale either brand new tires, or those used ones that have been carefully and thoroughly inspected to ensure they meet the various requirements laid down by law.”