Worn-Warn campaign highlights risks of used tyres
The Motor Ombudsman is highlighting the potential risks of fitting used tyres through a new campaign, ‘Worn-Warn’.
The campaign, backed by charity TyreSafe, follows a survey of 2,000 UK adults which found 31% said they’d consider buying a part-worn tyre.
Cost savings were the main motivation for 67% of those questioned, with 37% saying used tyres were a temporary solution until they could afford new tyres and 36% saying they were drawn by the convenience of used tyres being immediately available for fitting.
However, the Motor Ombudsman has reminded drivers that all used tyres should be labelled as ‘part-worn’ while it should also be possible to read the Department of Transport code on the sidewall, which is essentially the tyres date of birth.
Stuart Lovatt, chair at TyreSafe, said: “Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, but millions of part-worn tyres enter the market every year with an unknown history, hidden structural damage, or inadequate inspection by either sellers or vehicle owners.
“They may appear great value on the surface, but they can unfortunately compromise braking performance, increase the chance of blowouts, and put road users at risk of serious harm.”
“We are delighted to be backing this valuable campaign by The Motor Ombudsman, which works perfectly in tandem with our continued work in educating consumers about making informed and safe choices, understanding the risks that used tyres can bring, and ultimately urging them to think twice before cutting corners.”
