What Are Part Worn Tyres And Are They Safe

For drivers on a tight budget, part worn tyres can help to lower the cost of maintaining a vehicle  - although they’re not without risk. These refer to tyres that have already been used on another car. If you are based in the Manchester area and are looking for ways to cut down the costs on your vehicle maintenance, speaking with your tyres Manchester or tyres Stockport specialist may be something to think about  - but if you’re not sure about what a part worn tyre is - or whether it’s worth looking for a set to buy, our guide is here to help you weigh up the pros and cons so you can decide.

What Are The Legal Implications?

According to The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 (reg.7.) forming part of the Consumer Protection Act, it is an offence to sell part worn tyres that fail to meet a strict set of principal requirements, which apply whether or not the tyre is fitted to a wheel rim:

• The tyres should be structurally sound, free from any lumps, bulges or large cuts both inside and out, and no plies or cords should be exposed.
• Tyres marked BS AU 144e should also have a load capacity and speed category marking.
• A permanent mark to show the original model and manufacturer must be present.
• The word “retread” should be moulded into the sidewall in upper case lettering at least 4 mm high, along with additional markings in line with ECE rules (rules may vary, seek further advice for which apply to you).
• The words “part worn” should appear next to the “Retread”, ECE or BS  approval mark.
•  If supplied as a retread on or prior to 31 December 2003 BS AU 144b, 144c, 144d, or 144e marking should be present.
• If supplied after  1 January 2004 an ECE approval mark must be visible.

Are They Safe?

Tyres are arguably the most important aspect of a car - seeing as they are all that lies between you and the road. Ideally, all part worn tyres should be thoroughly checked inside and out before they are sold - but the reality is, many part worn tyres are ready for scrap by the time they reach the seller. According to the NTDA (National Tyre Distribution Association), around 97% of all part worn tyres are sold illegally.

Many advise against purchasing them in the first place, considering them to be a false economy - but the risks of a part worn tyre can be even more serious than this.

According to the ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), In 2019 “illegal, defective or underinflated tyres” were thought to have contributed to 5 fatal and 136 serious road collisions. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK for tyres is 1.6mm - anything below this and it can present a safety hazard, affecting acceleration, cornering and braking.

Advantages And Disadvantages

The main reason for purchasing part worn tyres is cost. If you are already aware of the history of the tyres you are considering (for instance if they previously belonged to a friend), then they can be a relatively safe purchase - safer still if they belong to an established brand (as the tyre will at least then be built to specific quality standards).

But the reality is without being able to see inside the tyres one can never really tell how much structural damage is there - and even if they are purchased in pairs (as is recommended), in all likelihood they will not be from the same vehicle, meaning that on each part worn tyre the tread will vary.

Where Do Part Worn Tyres Come From?

This type of tyre mostly comes from countries where the legal minimum tread depth is slightly more than the UK - for example in places like Germany, where the minimum tread is 3mm. You can frequently find part worn tyres being sold by scrap merchants or other places dealing with car write-offs. It’s often viewed as a means of making supplementary income: if a car is going to scrap, a vendor might attempt to keep the tyres, if they are deemed salvageable.

What To Check For

If the tyres are relatively new, you should be able to get a decent amount of mileage out of it. Uneven tread or worn shoulders are signs of wear, meaning the tyres should be avoided as they’re more likely to wear out in a few months - and could potentially cause your car to fail its MOT. Anything under 3mm of tread is not worth buying  (new tyres have 8mm of tread).

If the tread appears to be okay, check the sidewall inside and out for scrapes, cuts or loose rubber. If the car the tyres were salvaged from happens to have been in an accident there is a high possibility the tyres were damaged, potentially due to lateral forces damaging the sidewall construction or bodywork coming into contact with the tyres. However: even poor parking can damage tires.

If the tyres were repaired (usually a puncture repaired with rubber to seal the tread), then this can also be a warning sign. If a repair has been made, there is likely to be damage to the belts that help the tyres to keep their shape. Some tyres are irreparable - and those that are might have a lower speed rating as a result of the damage to them. 

Are They Worth It?

The reality is that even if the tread and overall construction appear to be in good condition, part worn tyres are a risk that could potentially not only cost you money - but your safety and that of any passengers in your vehicle.

If you are insistent about purchasing part-worn tyres, check them thoroughly, purchase brand-name tyres from a reputable vendor and ensure they are roadworthy (and ask your local Tyres Manchester or Tyres Stockport specialist for further advice if you are still unsure).

However, as a general rule, it’s best to avoid them: as the one thing between you and the road, they’re an important aspect of your car - and one that you can’t afford to skimp on - even if they look like a bargain.