Danger warning over vehicle tyres

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Three in 10 second-hand tyres on sale in the UK could be dangerous, an industry body has warned.

TyreSafe said many of the two million so-called part-worn tyres sold annually could cause fatal accidents.

A part-worn tyre can be bought for £10-£15 compared with £80-£90 for a new one, but TyreSafe warned many do not meet minimum safety requirements.

Problems include tyres that have been badly repaired or that do not have the legal minimum tread.

Impact damage

TyreSafe advises motorists to avoid buying part-worn tyres.

Spokesman Chris Wakley told BBC Radio Five Live: "The problem is that you don't really know what has happened to that tyre.

"It may have been involved in an accident so there could have been some impact damage on the tyre which you will not be able to see.

"It may have damaged the structural integrity of a tyre and the only time you're likely to know that could be at speed on a motorway when the tyre will deflate, and then you're in big trouble."

Not marked

Lincolnshire Trading Standards recently carried out a survey of part-worn tyre sales, and found 29% of those they bought failed their tests.

Andy Bukavs, from Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said they found unsafe repairs, damage affecting ability to maintain pressure, structural damage, and tyres not marked as part-worn.

It is legal to sell used tyres in the UK as long as they have a tread depth of 2mm or more, have been examined for defects and are marked as part worn. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm.