Car safety experts are calling for a change in the law after finding that motorists in the UK are driving around in part-worn, second hand tyres taken from scrapyard in northern Europe. Auto Express has today written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, calling for “an immediate review of the regulations around the sale of part-worn tyres”.

It is thought that as many as 8 million part-worn tyres could be being sold to drivers in the UK each year, millions of which are shipped over by the container load from northern Europe and sold into the part-worn market, often having been recovered and resold from worn out or scrapped vehicles.

In an exclusive ‘mystery shop’ investigation Auto Express has exposed a number of safety risks.

Current regulations state that to sell part-worn tyres in the UK, traders must ensure tyres have no significant damage, can be safely inflated to the manufacturer’s maximum recommended pressure, and have a minimum tread depth of at least 2mm. They must also be clearly and permanently marked with the words ‘PART WORN’ in capital letters at least 4mm high, and display the correct ‘E’ mark to show they meet European standards.

However, the Auto Express investigation - in partnership with tyre safety education charity TyreSafe - found that some tyres sold as part-worn lacked legally required markings, had not been properly inspected, and in some cases showed signs of serious internal damage. Defective tyres can lead to handling issues or blow-outs, putting drivers and other road users at serious risk.

Consumer Editor Chris Rosamond said: “Our investigation has shown that there are serious issues with part-worn tyres, that current regulations are being ignored on a wide scale - a recent TyreSafe investigation targeted at suspect retailers found that 94% of the part-worn tyres inspected were being sold illegally, and over 60% were dangerous - yet enforcement is practically non-existent. This is an issue that affects every single road user, because, while you might not buy potentially dodgy used tyres, your life could be negatively impacted by someone else who has. It’s time for the Government to step in.”

Auto Express is calling for an officially backed accreditation scheme for retailers to improve standards and give consumers peace of mind and greater enforcement and oversight, with a proposed role for the DVSA to bolster overstretched local Trading Standards departments.

Rosamond said: “Firstly, we are asking for the introduction of an officially backed accreditation scheme for part-worn retailers that includes a minimum level of qualification for tyre fitters and/or quality checkers.

“This one change would offer consumers a guarantee of quality and service that’s absent in the market today, and we believe accreditation would also help to encourage investment in a strong and stable part-worn retail sector as a valuable player in the UK’s transition to a circular economy.

“Second, we want to see more vigorous and proactive intervention from the authorities to crack down on offenders who ignore part-worn tyre regulations altogether, including those selling online.

“That means greatly increased monitoring and oversight, and stiffer penalties for those who continue to put the lives of all road users at risk by selling potentially dangerous tyres to unsuspecting drivers.”

Auto Express is not calling for an outright ban on part-worns - it is clear motorists need affordable options - but says poor regulation and weak oversight are putting lives at risk.

Chris adds: “Cash-strapped drivers are still reeling from the cost-of-living crisis, and with the price of new tyres up 50% in just five years many drivers feel forced into cut-price, and potentially dangerous, alternatives. We’re not against part-worn sales in principle, but the risks are real. Without proper market oversight and enforcement, buying part-worn tyres can be a dangerous gamble - unknown history, hidden damage, and the potential for failure. What could be a potential saving in the short-term could pay back dearly in the future.”