Spotlight 11 The hidden risks of part-worn tyres The Motor Ombudsman used the recent UK Garage & Bodyshop event as the platform to launch its latest tyre safety campaign. Chris Callander spoke to Paul Brown from Lindleys Autocentres, the campaign’s spokesperson, about the vital role independent garages play in helping motorists understand why a cheap tyre is not always good value. With household budgets under continued pressure, it is no surprise that many motorists are looking for ways to reduce the cost of maintaining their vehicles. For some, that means considering part-worn tyres. On the surface, they can appear to offer easy savings, but independent garages have an important role to play in helping customers understand that the cheapest option is not always the best value. That message sits at the heart of The Motor Ombudsman’s WORN-WARN campaign, which recently received the 2026 TyreSafe Online and Social Media Award in recognition of its efforts to raise awareness of the risks associated with buying second-hand tyres. The campaign, backed by TyreSafe and supported by Motor Ombudsmanaccredited Lindleys Autocentres, aims to provide motorists and garages with practical information to encourage safer purchasing decisions. The campaign follows research commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman, which found that nearly one-third of UK adults would consider buying part-worn tyres if their current tyres needed replacing, with twothirds of those citing cost as the main motivation. Among motorists aged 25 to 34, that figure rises to almost half. At the same time, 69% admitted they did not know what a tyre’s Department of Transport (DOT) code meant, while 43% were unaware that, legally, part-worn tyres must be permanently marked as such. For Paul Brown, General Manager of the Tyre Division at Lindleys Autocentres, those findings reflect what technicians see every day. “People often judge a tyre by its tread depth alone,” he explained. “What they can’t see is its history. A tyre could have suffered impact damage, been involved in an accident, been repaired incorrectly or simply deteriorated with age.” Paul pointed out that tyres can still appear to have plenty of usable tread despite being more than a decade old, with cracking and degradation only becoming apparent to a trained eye. Even tyres that have been stored rather than used should be carefully inspected once they are more than five years old. While part-worn tyres are legal when sold in accordance with strict regulations, Paul believes many motorists are unaware of what they should be looking for. Correct labelling, tyre age and evidence of previous repairs are all factors that should be checked before a purchase is even considered. For many independent garages, that creates an opportunity to add value beyond simply fitting replacement tyres. Every service, MOT or tyre inspection provides a chance to explain how to read a DOT code, identify signs of deterioration and discuss why the unknown history of a part-worn tyre can present a risk. Paul also believes garages should help customers understand that a brand-new budget tyre will often represent a safer option than a premium part-worn tyre with an unknown past. “We’re not telling anybody what they can and can’t buy,” he said. “It’s about giving people the information they need to make the right choice.” As cost pressures continue to influence motorists’ buying decisions, conversations like these are likely to become increasingly important. Campaigns such as WORN-WARN provide garages with useful educational resources, but it is the advice given across the workshop counter that will ultimately help customers make informed decisions about one of the most safety-critical components on their vehicle. www.themotorombudsman.org/Tyres Paul Brown, General Manager of the Tyre Division at Lindleys Autocentres
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=