Evidence from enforcement activity highlights why consumers must remain cautious when choosing replacement tyres
TyreSafe is reminding UK drivers of the continued risks associated with part-worn tyres, following a series of enforcement operations and investigations carried out with Trading Standards, police teams and local authorities.
While these operations were conducted over the past year, the findings continue to highlight long-standing and systemic issues within parts of the part-worn tyre market, reinforcing the importance of consumer awareness and informed purchasing decisions.
Enforcement activity highlights serious safety concerns
Joint operations in Norfolk and Lancashire revealed significant issues with compliance and safety standards in the part-worn tyre sector.
In Norfolk, a joint inspection of 191 part-worn tyres across seven businesses found:
- 36% of tyres were in a dangerous condition, including exposed cords, structural damage and poor repairs
- Only one tyre met full legal safety and marking requirements
- Unsafe tyres were immediately removed from sale, with enforcement action taken against non-compliant traders
In Lancashire, a separate multi-agency day of action found:
- None of 30 part-worn tyres inspected met legal requirements
- None were correctly marked as “PART-WORN”
- Dangerous defects included embedded objects, sidewall damage and substandard repairs
These findings resulted in engagement with businesses and follow-up action to improve compliance.
TyreSafe Chair, Stuart Lovatt, said “Our recent education and enforcement activity revealed a deeply concerning picture of tyre safety on UK roads. Too often, part-worn tyres are being used as a dangerous short-term fix rather than a safe, compliant solution. We encountered vehicles fitted with severely aged tyres that should have been removed from service years ago, alongside single-tyre replacements fitted purely to secure an MOT pass. This creates highly unstable and potentially dangerous combinations, including mismatched summer and winter tyres on the same axle, which can seriously compromise braking and handling. Perhaps most alarming, none of the part-worn tyres we inspected carried the legally required ‘PART-WORN’ marking, highlighting a serious lack of compliance and leaving motorists unknowingly exposed to unsafe and unverified products.”
Education and engagement leading to improvements
Follow-up work with retailers in Lancashire demonstrated that education and engagement can improve standards.
Some businesses responded positively by:
- Improving their understanding of legal requirements
- Reducing or stopping the sale of part-worn tyres
- Switching to safer alternatives such as new budget tyres
However, TyreSafe notes that despite these positive steps, part-worn tyres remain a high-risk product category for consumers, particularly where regulation is not consistently followed.
A continuing consumer safety issue
Previous TyreSafe-supported investigations also reinforce wider industry concerns:
- A significant proportion of inspected part-worn tyres have been found to be non-compliant or unsafe
- Defects commonly include poor repairs, structural damage and ageing beyond safe limits
- Some tyres have been found with unknown or undocumented histories, increasing risk
Unlike new tyres, part-worn tyres come with an uncertain past. Damage caused by impacts, under-inflation or previous repairs may not always be visible externally, but can significantly weaken structural integrity.
Tyres are complex engineered products, and even where tread depth appears acceptable, hidden defects can lead to sudden failure.
What is a part-worn tyre?
A part-worn tyre is a used tyre sold as a standalone product.
This is distinct from tyres fitted to a second-hand vehicle. When purchasing a used car, tyres are inherited as part of the vehicle. In contrast, part-worn tyres are sold individually, where safety, traceability and compliance with legal standards rely entirely on the retailer.
This distinction is important, as part-worn tyres must meet specific legal requirements before they can be sold.
Safety and value considerations
While part-worn tyres are sometimes purchased on cost grounds, TyreSafe continues to advise that they may not represent the best long-term value.
Reduced usable tread life, combined with a higher likelihood of defects, can result in more frequent replacement and increased safety risk over time.
Real-world consequences of tyre neglect
The importance of tyre condition is reinforced by real-world incidents where defective or worn tyres have contributed to serious collisions, including cases resulting in life-changing injuries.
These outcomes underline the importance of ensuring tyres are correctly specified, properly maintained and sourced from reputable suppliers.
Legal requirements
Where part-worn tyres are sold, they must meet strict legal requirements, including:
- Passing a pressure test (to the manufacturer’s maximum inflation pressure) before sale
- Having a minimum tread depth of at least 2mm across the full tread
- Being free from cuts, bulges or exposed cords
- Clearly displaying a permanent “PART-WORN” marking
However, investigations have shown that compliance is not always consistent across the sector.
TyreSafe reminder to motorists
TyreSafe Chair, Stuart Lovatt, continued, “The enforcement activity has clearly demonstrated that while some progress has been made, there are still areas of the part-worn tyre market where standards fall short of what drivers should expect and what the law requires.
The key message for motorists is awareness. Tyres are a critical safety component, and their condition directly affects braking, handling and control. Yet with part-worn tyres, the full history of the product is often unknown.
The danger of part-worn tyres is often hidden beneath the surface. When you consider that four postcard-sized patches of rubber are the only things connecting you to the road, the risks become clear. We often ask motorists: if you wouldn’t buy part-worn brakes, why would you settle for part-worn tyres?
Drivers should always buy from reputable sources and ensure tyres are correctly marked, compliant and suitable for their vehicle. Where possible, new tyres remain the safest option. Above all, regular checks using the ACT method remain essential for all drivers.”
Advice for motorists
TyreSafe encourages all road users to:
- Buy tyres from reputable retailers
- Be cautious of unusually cheap or unverified part-worn tyres
- Check tyres regularly using the ACT method:
- Air pressure
- Condition
- Tread
For more information, visit:
www.tyresafe.org
www.partworn-tyres.co.uk
