Looking for tyres? Considering part worn tyres? You should think again.
Part worn tyres – the bane of BestDrive by Continental and driver safety organisations alike! If there’s one thing that gets our blood boiling it’s these dangerous, misleading and often illegal ‘alternatives’ to brand new tyres.
Your driver safety is our top priority at BestDrive, and we have an unrivalled track record of providing Ireland’s motorists with the ideal tyre fitting solution that suits their specific driving habits and vehicle type. Part worn tyres represent the complete antithesis of our company philosophy, and our duty of care to our customers. We are 100% against their usage.
What are part worn tyres?
Do you know what part worn tyres are? As the name implies, these are second hand tyres. They’ve been used by someone before, and as a result they have been partly worn down already. And the consequences of fitting worn down tyres? Buyers don’t have the tread depth you get with new tyres, and this affects their vehicle’s grip on the road.
So who are all these previous tyre owners, and where are the tyres coming from? There are many overseas territories that supply the Irish part worn tyre market, but the main one is Germany. This is because over there, drivers typically change their tyres when the tread gets down to 3mm (something that tyre experts around the world, including BestDrive recommend).
Why? Because – even though, like in Ireland, their minimum legal tread depth is 1.6 mm – it’s long been established that once it gets as low as 3mm, the remainiing tread deteriorates quickly.
As a result, it means there is a huge amount of second hand tyres available for import into Ireland for the part worn tyre market.
So, in theory at least, they’re legal in Ireland, but does that mean they are safe?
Part worns – safe or dangerous?
Originally invented by Continental Tyres in 1904, tyre treads are the grooves in the rubber that are vital for removing water from between the tyre itself and the driving surface. This small but essential area (often no bigger than a smartphone) is known as the “contact patch”, and it’s this that generates the necessary grip to ensure safe and accurate braking, steering and acceleration.
Continental are a leading developer and manufacture of driving technology, and are best known for their world leading premium tyres. Driver safety is at the heart of their tyre offering. As a result they offer an unrivalled range of summer and winter tyres for cars, SUVs, 4x4s and vans.
When you buy new tyres, they’re fresh from the factory with a tread depth of 8 mm. Once fitted, normal driving usage means that they gradually wear down, and – as they do – the grip they provide reduces. As a result, by the time they’ve worn down to 3 mm, tyre experts suggest that they’re nearly 80% worn. That’s a significant amount of braking ability gone, due to normal wear and tear.
So imagine how little braking ability a part worn tyre has to offer when it’s purchased with 3 mm – or in some cases just 2 mm – of tread left?! It doesn’t bear thinking about.
Good tyre tread depth is essential to ensuring you can brake quickly and successfully. It affects your ability to stop safely – and fast – in the wet, providing shorter stopping distances. If your tyre treads are too worn – as is often the case with part worn tyres – drivers simply travel further after hitting the brakes, often resulting in collisions, or skidding off the road.
And this is the crux of the matter. If you decide to purchase part worn tyres, these are the potential circumstances with which they’ll start their ‘new’ life with you.
Tread depth wear and typical performance by numbers
- 8mm
The tyre tread is 0% worn. That’s excellent! - 7mm
The tyre is roughly 15% worn. It’s still very good. - 6mm
The tyre is approximately 30% worn. That’s still good. - 5mm
The tyre is now around 45-50% worn. That’s okay though. - 4mm
The tyre is about 65% worn. Low but still acceptable. - 3mm
The tyre is now almost 80% worn. Recommend you plan to replace asap. - 2mm
The tyre is now around 95% worn. This is very alarming and requires urgent attention! - 1.6mm
The tyre is now at its limit for use legally on Ireland’s roads, but that doesn’t justify continuing to use it. - Under 1.6mm
The tyre is illegal to use on public roads in Ireland. Shocking!
Not only that, it’s irrisponsible and potentially lethal, both endangering yours and other road users lives. And if you are prosecuted for driving with damaged or dangerous tyres and convicted of the offence, you could be fined up to €2,500, or be given a three month prison sentence, or (as is often the case) both. You’ll also have five penalty points added to your licence*.
* “Your Guide to Tyre Safety”, published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA)
The majority of part worn tyres are illegal
In Ireland, the sale of part worn tyres is supposed to be governed by strict regulations, unfortunately it’s very easy to get around them – and that endangers all road users.
On top of this, there’s also an associated problem concerning the quality of tyre fitting. If you fit the wrong type of tyre to a car – such as if the size, load index or speed rating is incorrect – or mix tread patterns on the same axle, it has a detrimental effect on both braking and cornering. There’s evidence that this kind of malpractice occurs throughout Ireland, and all the time.
Still considering buying part worn tyres? Speak with BestDrive by Continental first
All things considered, we can’t be more explicit: part worn tyres should be avoided. There are just to many uncontrollable factors with the tyres themself and the quality of fitting that could endanger your life, and that of your fellow road users. And even if you get lucky, because the tyres are already worn down, they’ll soon need replacing again. Frankly, they not only dangerous but also a false economy, so save your life and save your money and buy new tyres.
Contact or visit your local BestDrive tyre professionals for expert, impartial tyre advice and fitting solutions. You’ll find your nearest branch at the top of this page.
BestDrive by Continental – You drive, we care.