Motor Codes interview: Should part-worn tyres be sold?

With tyre safety in the news, a raft of marketing materials from tyre manufacturers hitting TV screens and Quentin Willson shilling Goodyear for all he’s worth, the various facets of tyre maintenance and safety have come into focus in 2011.

One specific element of the tyre safety debate is part-worns – essentially second-hand tyres that have less active tread depth than new tyres – and their growing popularity in a difficult economy.

Critics say that part-worns are dangerous, can carry unknown faults and amount to a false economy, but others argue that part-worn tyres are a cheap and effective way of fitting new tyres to a car.

They argue that motorists are ignorant of the true dangers of part-worns, an assertion apparently backed-up by recent findings that suggested that half of the 35% of UK drivers who buy part-worn tyres are unaware of potential dangers.

While drivers may counter that all tyres in use are, in effect, part-worn, it's the unknown origins and history of part-worns that are particularly worrying.

A trading standards investigation back in 2010 by Birmingham City Council found part-worn tyres which had nails embedded, illegal tread depth, exposed cords, inadequate markings and one tyre which was 17 years old.

What's more, of 190 part-worn tyres bought in the investigation, 25 per cent were found to have some form of structural defect. 90 per cent did not have the correct markings required by law, which identify them as a part worn tyre.

However, the debate is clouded by the suspicion that tyre manufacturers accentuate the danger of part-worns because the growing popularity of used tyres dents the bottom lines of premium tyre-makers.

MotorTorque has taken part in test between brand new tyres and part-worns; we were left in no doubt as to the dangers posed by part-worns in difficult conditions, but we’re also mindful of the doubts and lack of knowledge drivers may have concerning different rubber.

So we went to government- and industry-backed outfit Motor Codes, who sign up UK garages to an agreed set of rules to give high-quality and transparent service to motorists.

We wanted to know whether part-worn tyres should be on the agenda of the UK government, Motor Codes garages and the country’s motorists – and determine what, if any, action should be taken.

Motor Codes says it never advises customers to fit part-worn tyres, though it believes that garages signed up to the codes may sell part-worn tyres.

We spoke to Chris Mason, Motor Codes MD, about its stance on part-worn tyres and advice for customers who need to replace their rubbers.

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MT:Do you think customers have an adequate understanding of how unsafe part-worn tyres are?

MC:It may be that motorists don’t fully understand the safety implications associated with fitting part-worn tyres or that some people are indicating a willingness to take a risk, because of budgetary needs.

However, our advice to anybody that contacted Motor Codes would always be to fit new tyres to a car.

While there may be reputable suppliers out there, you just have no way of telling a part-worn tyre’s history and tyres are a major vehicle safety component.

The only way to be sure of a tyre’s condition is to buy new.

MT:What sort of customer feedback have you had on this issue?

MC:To date, we’ve not been contacted by any motorist asking about buying part-worn tyres.

This may suggest that garages within the network are not supplying the tyres or could equally give weight to claim that motorists need access to more information on the issue.

MT:Do you think garages have an adequate understanding of how unsafe part-worn tyres are?

MC: The law on the sale of part-worn tyres is very clear and they must meet certain criteria. It’s the responsibility of any garage selling them to ensure that they comply with regulations.

MT:Is there an official Motor Codes line on part-worn tyres?

MC:Tyres are a major vehicle safety component and, if people contact our advice line on the issue, we’d recommend fitting new tyres.

MT:Do garages that abide by the codes of practice sell part-worn tyres?

MC:There may be Motor Codes subscribers that sell part-worns and, of course, there would be repercussions if the tyres were sold illegally.

Our independent experts at the Motor Codes advice line would still recommend that motorists buy new tyres, whether from a Motor Codes subscriber or not.

MT:Does self-regulation in these areas actually work?

MC:Self-regulation cannot stop the sale of part-worns, as long as the law permits their sale.

MT:Is government regulation required to stop the sale of part-worns in the UK – or regulate their entry in the UK market more stringently?

MC:We couldn’t make such statements without first consulting with industry, government and our network to make sure we’re fully versed on all the facts and figures relating to part-worns.

However, we’d happily work alongside government on investigating the issue.

MT: If Motor Codes believes that motorists should always buy new tyres, should the codes include a section on not selling part-worns?

MC:We may look to add specific mention of part-worns to our codes in future, depending on the outcomes of any such consultation.

Goto Motor Codes for more information.  

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