In today’s cost-of-living crisis, it’s essential to save money wherever possible. Tyres are a necessary expense when it comes to car maintenance, but they can be costly to replace. As a result, some drivers may consider purchasing cheaper part-worn or retreaded tyres as an alternative. However, is this option worth the potential risk to one of the most important safety features of your car?
Interestingly, thousands of part-worn tyres are sold every day, and when buying a used car, it often comes with used tyres. Despite this, using part-worn or retreaded tyres as a replacement for your existing tyres when they wear out can be seen as a safety hazard.
According to the UK charity TyreSafe, over 5 million used tyres are sold in the UK annually. Many of these tyres come from Europe, where the tread depth regulations are stricter than those in the UK. In this blog post, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of choosing part-worn or retreaded tyres and whether they are a safe and cost-effective option for drivers during the current cost-of-living crisis. Stay tuned!
The rules on tyre tread
Do you know the rules on tyre tread in the UK? In the UK, once the tread depth drops below 1.6mm, the tyre is considered illegal. Drivers who fail to comply with this regulation face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. It’s essential to note that if all four tyres on your car are over-worn, you could lose your clean license.
Interestingly, the legal minimum tread depth of a tyre in Germany is 3mm, almost double that of the UK. Even when the tread is worn by more than 50%, it is still legal in Germany since a brand-new tyre can have treads as deep as 8mm.
It might seem reasonable to put a tyre that has been replaced in Germany on a car in the UK and still comply with the law. Many of the tyres sold in the UK’s ‘part-worn’ industry come from such places as the German market. However, it’s important to keep in mind not to purchase such tyres if you are planning to take your car abroad.
Nevertheless, there are more serious concerns about buying part-worn tyres, which we’ll discuss in the following sections of this blog post.
What the law says about selling used tyres in the UK
The sale of used tyres in the UK is governed by strict rules. Tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 2mm across their ‘contact patch,’ with no damage, and must be marked with the words ‘part-worn’ on their side walls in letters at least 4mm high. However, evidence suggests that these rules are being routinely flouted across the industry.
In 2006, the UK tyre industry established TyreSafe as a registered charity, aiming to reduce the number of tyre-related incidents on Britain’s roads by raising awareness of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and illegal tyres. TyreSafe conducted a survey that revealed some alarming findings in the UK part-worn market. Out of 50 used tyres purchased, a third had damage that rendered them unsafe, including sub-standard repairs and exposed cords, and only one was correctly marked with the legally-required ‘part-worn’ insignia.
Trading Standards officers also conducted an investigation, concluding that more than 93% of the tyres they bought were not compliant with the law, and between a third and half had defects that rendered them unsafe. Therefore, if you opt for part-worn tyres, you must make careful checks to ensure you’re buying tyres with enough tread left on them to justify the price, even if they are substantially cheaper.
It’s also essential to factor in that even good part-worn tyres will last a lot less than new tyres, as they can quickly wear out, and you’ll be repeating the whole process again sooner than you think. The most critical checks, however, should be to keep you and your passengers safe. At the end of the day, driving on a new tyre with a deeper tread is safer on the road, especially in extreme situations like having to make an emergency stop in torrential rain.
Is retreading tyres the solution?
The modern tyre’s single-use nature is causing significant environmental problems. They are bulky and notoriously difficult to recycle, with landfill sites banning them since 2006. The British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA) states that just 15% of UK tyres are reused by retreading, while 25% are used to make rubber crumb for soft surfaces such as playgrounds.
Of the remaining waste tyres, 15% are incinerated in the UK, and 35% are exported to be incinerated elsewhere. Environmental concerns are rising over such exports in the UK and the countries to which we export our waste tyres. Therefore, cutting the number of waste tyres would be a green move, and retreading could be the answer.
Retreading of car tyres is often grouped with the part-worn industry as something you shouldn’t do for safety reasons. However, retread providers claim that the scare stories, such as retreaded tyres being impossible to balance and more likely to burst, are false. Retreaded tyres need not be less safe than brand-new ones, but some insurers will use their presence to invalidate policies. Therefore, if you plan to buy such tyres, check your insurance policy to ensure you can fit them.
You need to know: Tyre retreading is properly regulated
Retreading can be a cost-effective and safe option for tyres. All retreading operators and processes in the UK are certified by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA). Since 2004, all retreaded tyres sold in the UK have had to meet a United Nations EU compliance document. Retreaded tyres carry identification numbers showing exactly which facility they come from.
Only certain tyres are suitable for retreading, and stringent checks through the retreading process ensure no potential safety issues. Many original tyre manufacturers such as Michelin and Goodyear even do their retreading in the commercial market.
Despite this, the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA) states that even commercial retreading is under threat, as the industry extends the life of each tyre by three times and uses up four times fewer tyres each year. The association is campaigning for more recognition of the industry.
Conclusion
While retreaded tyres may be a credible alternative, it’s still worth to buy new tyres if you can afford to do so. Brand-new tyres come with full tread depth and offer the highest levels of safety and performance. Plus, you won’t have to worry about any potential issues that come with buying part-worn tyres. However, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option, then retreaded tyres are definitely worth considering over part-worn tyres.