Drivers urged to stop buying second-hand tyres as huge call is made

James Grant

Drivers across the UK have been advised against buying part-worn tyres as the safety risks and regulatory failures in the market come under intense scrutiny.

Motoring magazine Auto Express has issued a major call for government intervention, highlighting the urgent need for tougher regulation and enforcement to protect all road users.

In a recent investigation, the publication revealed that the dangers posed by second-hand tyres are not limited to those who buy them — every driver is at risk as defective tyres on any vehicle can lead to catastrophic consequences. Auto Express is calling on the government to take action on two fronts.

Firstly, it is calling for ministers to introduce an officially backed accreditation scheme for part-worn tyre retailers enforcing higher standards for quality and service, while also addressing the widespread lack of oversight currently plaguing the market. Although this might lead to slightly increased costs for consumers, it would also potentially save lives.

Secondly, Auto Express wants to see far more proactive intervention from authorities to prevent unscrupulous traders from ignoring the existing regulations, including increased monitoring, stricter oversight and stiffer penalties for those who continue to sell dangerous tyres and put lives at risk.

Auto Express proposed that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) should play a greater role under the Department for Transport, with additional funding and powers to enforce compliance. The current patchwork approach is handled by under-resourced local Trading Standards departments.

There is currently no requirement for tyre traders to undergo any type of training or accreditation, leaving many unqualified to accurately assess the safety of the tyres they sell. As a result, many with structural faults — delamination, cuts and bulges, and even previous unsafe repairs — are routinely making their way back onto UK roads.

Findings by consumer safety charity TyreSafe are particularly alarming, with their inspections uncovering that 94 percent of second-hand tyres were being sold illegally, with over 60 percent considered dangerous.

Auto Express also wants to see far more proactive intervention from authorities to prevent unscrupulous traders from ignoring existing regulations

The market for part-worn tyres is vast, with an estimated six to eight million units sold annually in the UK. The cost-of-living crisis and soaring prices for new tyres have pushed even more drivers towards cheaper, second-hand options.

However, these potential savings come with significant hidden costs: increased risk of accidents and longer stopping distances, as well as a higher likelihood of catastrophic tyre failure.

Department for Transport data underscores the real-world consequences. In 2023, there were 384 recorded incidents involving defective tyres, the highest number in four years, resulting in 13 fatalities. Experts argue that clamping down on substandard part-worn tyres could help reduce this alarming trend.

Transport Select Committee chair Ruth Cadbury told Auto Express: “Defective tyres are contributing to a growing number of serious incidents on our roads. Department for Transport data shows that 384 such incidents were recorded in 2023, the highest number in four years. Indeed, 13 people were tragically killed in that year.

“Clamping down on traders selling part-worn tyres that aren’t up to standard would help reduce this alarming rise. It is vital that local-authority Trading Standards teams are equipped with both the expertise and the resources to investigate and help reduce the risk to life or of serious injury.”