July/August 2021

W ith many people on furlough, and the full financial impact of the pandemic still unclear, you could forgive people for wanting to make savings where possible. Keep that car for an extra year? Why not. Repair not replaces? We like that idea. Being prudent can only go so far though. For example, cutting corners when it comes to tyres is a bad idea, as when you reach a corner, you might fly off the road if your tyres are not up to the task. On this basis, part worn tyres would seem to be an especially bad idea. TyreSafe is the charity dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and illegal tyres. We spoke to TyreSafe Manager Jason Simms, who said: “Part worn tyres are appealing to some retailers due to their ready availability from sources in both the UK and abroad. It’s also appealing as it’s far too easy to set up, leading to the growth of outlets at car washes and other ad hoc venues. The UK does have regulations on the sale of part worn tyres but Trading Standards and TyreSafe found 94% of the 278 retailers investigated did not conform to these rules and were ultimately trading illegally. “While they may provide a potentially high profit margin for those retailers, the risks part worns represent could mean vehicle owners potentially pay the ultimate price. That’s not sensationalism. 63% of the inspected part worn tyres bought during those TyreSafe and Trading Standards investigations were unfit to return to the roads. It’s not tread depth or lack of it which is typically the problem. Instead, it’s the general condition of the tyre in three key areas. “First, poor puncture repairs, which do not conform to BS AUG 159G. These are often string repairs, badly botched patch repairs and repairs to the sidewall. TyreSafe has even seen tyres ‘repaired’ with bubble-gum. Next, objects embedded in the tyres. Nails, screws, glass and shard of iron are the most common, but a mechanic’s socket has also been discovered among the less common objects. Lastly, tyre age. The oldest tyre seen to date was 29 years old. One-in-five inspected was over 10 years old. Some have vulcanised to such a degree, they do not bend. Please note, all these faults have been recorded officially and witnessed on investigations. “Clearly, these issues represent a clear danger to the purchaser and some retailers have been proven to be supplying them without any consideration for the danger to motorists. However, they are in the minority but it is still worrying that the remainder are selling a safety critical component with little no understanding of the product’s technology and complexity.” Jason added: “TyreSafe is campaigning to reduce the supply of dangerous part worns to the general public and to urge retailers to ensure they are trained tot least a basic level of competency. Deciding whether a tyre passes the regulatory requirements falls to the retailer. TyreSafe urges anyone selling part worns tyres to ask themselves if they really do have the skills required to assess this most important, safety critical component.” To find out more, visit www.tyresafe.org Main concern While organsisations like TyreSafe are dedicated to this topic, what working mechanics see in their regular working days can also be eye-opening. A reader contacted 8 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2021 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net FALSE ECONOMY With financial uncertainty all around, will motorists short-change themselves by opting for part worn tyres? We hope not after this investigation