With rising inflation, most drivers are not comfortable with spending a fair amount on new tyres. So, their solution is to buy part-worn tyres and avoid purchasing brand new tyres. Part-worn tyres are those which have been already used by somebody else.
What Is The Law In Uk Law Regarding Part-Worn Tyres?
It isn’t illegal to buy or sell used Ceat Tractor Tyres. About 5.5 million part-worn tyres are sold each year. But the vendors have to stick to a couple of regulations by law.
First of all, the part-worn tyres should be in good condition. It means there shouldn’t be any cuts in the tread and bulges in the sidewall, along with no visibility of cords or structural carcass. Moreover, the width and the circumference of the tread should be at least 2mm; the sidewalls should have a minimum height of 4mm. The sidewalls should also have “part-worn” written clearly and permanently in upper-case letters.
Many suppliers flour these regulations even though they are pretty straightforward. While buying second-hand tyres, ensure that the vendor complies with the given laws. The tyres not having the requirements can result in serious accidents.
Merits Of Part-Worn Tyres
If you purchase a second-hand car and don’t exchange the tyres for new ones, you are essentially using part-worn tyres. Most people have done that without knowing the tyres’ form and history.
Part-worn tyres shipped from Germany have at least 3mm tread depth as per their law. As the legal tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, these tyres can be used and may even have a couple of thousand miles in them.
The biggest perk of part-worn tyres is the cost – they cost a lot less than a new set of tyres. You can even buy a better quality second-hand tyre from a reputable brand. With the same price, you may only afford a new budget tyre from an unknown manufacturer.
Demerits Of Part-Worn Tyres
The most crucial disadvantage of part-worn tyres is safety. You are using tyres that have been deemed unusable by some other driver. So you need to ask yourself – are they safe for you?
As these tyres have less tread depth, they generate less grip, especially on wet roads. It will result in less traction, less cornering, and braking grip.
According to a survey, 98% of second-hand tyres sold in Britain were not compliant with the stipulated regulations. 34% were considered to be dangerous. Even if a part-worn tyre checks all the regulations, it might be defective elsewhere; you don’t have to worry about this if you buy new tyres.
Another demerit of these tyres is longevity – part-worn tyres won’t have as long a lifespan as that of new tyres. Therefore, they need to be replaced much more often. Thus, the savings won’t be as substantial as you might think. Usually, a new tyre has a tread depth of 8mm, while a second-hand tyre only has a quarter of it. So, you can travel a few hundred miles before replacing the used tyres.
What Are The Alternatives To Part-Worn Tyres?
Remoulded tyres or retreaded tyres were popular solutions before. It is still legal in the UK to remould a tyre, but they have to adhere to strict regulations. If manufactured with care, they won’t be much less safe than new tyres.
To retread a tyre, the tread and sidewall of a used tyre ( whose structure should be in adequate condition) are stripped and new rubber is applied to the carcass. Remoulded tyres have lost their popularity as budget tyres from the Far East have become common.
Should I Purchase Part-Worn Tyres?
If there was a guarantee that the part-worn tyres were completely safe and match up to the regulations, you could buy them. Unfortunately, there can be no such assurances.
Only the tyres make direct contact with the road. So, they need proper maintenance to ensure maximum safety. Tractor Tyres are the only part of the car you shouldn’t scrimp on the cost. Thorough external and internal inspection for all part-worn tyres before their sale is needed. But in reality, most of them are not checked at all. Many second-hand tyres have structural damage, which means they should be disposed of. So, the best you can do is to avoid these tyres altogether.