Understanding Part-Worn Tyres

Part-worn tyres are essentially used tyres that have been salvaged from vehicles, often sold at car recycling facilities or scrap merchants. While they might present a cheaper alternative for vehicle owners, the safety and reliability of these tyres can vary greatly. Each tyre’s condition is subjective, and what may seem salvageable to one person could be deemed hazardous by another.

The Risks of Buying Second-Hand Tyres

Purchasing part-worn tyres can be compared to acquiring second-hand electrical goods — you may not have any recourse if the product fails or leads to an accident. If a part-worn tyre is found to be defective after installation and contributes to an accident, the owner has limited legal recourse for compensation. Thus, it’s imperative to assess the risks before deciding if part-worn tyres are the right choice for you.

Performance Insights: Part-Worn vs. New Tyres

To illustrate the performance differences, a recent test conducted at UTAC’s Millbrook Proving Ground compared a set of new Continental SportContact 7s with worn tyres shaved to the legal limit of 1.6mm tread depth. The results were staggering: the stop distance from 70 mph on a wet surface was 60.7 metres for the new tyres, whereas it extended to 75.6 metres for the worn tyres. This dramatic difference of 14.9 metres emphasizes not only the diminished performance of part-worn tyres but also the potential hazards they introduce.