Part Worn Tyres: Are They Worth Buying?
by Brian, under Cars, Safety & Advice.
You are definitely considering the purchase of part worn tyres to avoid an adverse hit to your already tight budget. If the warnings from auto industry experts as well as government authorities are forcing you to give a second thought to this idea, you are not wrong. Many old used tyres can lead to accidents as they do not meet the minimum safety standards on purchase.
In other circumstance, old tyres can be very dangerous even if they meet the initial safety requirements as they tend to worn out quickly if subjected to rough use. The best way to avoid such problems while saving money is to exercise precaution while buying old used tyres. Consider the legal requirements as the minimum standard and look for tyres on which you can rely for your safety as well as the safety of your family members who are precious to you.
Some of the legal requirements followed in common in many countries are:
- Cuts that are longer than 25 mm, which is approximately 10% of the width of a tyre are not acceptable as such types of cuts would be deep enough to go down into the steel belt itself and cause severe damage
- Any lumps, tears or bulges that are usually caused by a separation within the structure of the tyre should not be there
- Any places wherein deep penetration has occurred and has not been repaired properly or places that are showing steel belt are also objectionable
In addition, used tyres must be properly marked:
- They need to possess all original markings highlighting the make and model, as well as the weight rating and speed rating
- The tyres should have “part worn” written on them that stand at least 4 mm high and these must not be carved into the tyres but written in permanent ink
Other Aspects to be considered in Part Worn Tyres
While ensuring that the legal requirements have been met will keep you safe, you can actually take more precautions to find the best value for your money. For example, the tread of the tyre gets covered in the legal requirements but you can additionally check the grooves which help you in maintaining the necessary grip on the ground.
Another great way to look for a good tyre is to check for particles or powder like substances in the inner part of the tyre. This can be done while the tyre has not been mounted on the on the wheel. Other area that can give you the story of an unwanted collision or a bad bump to the tyre is the sidewall. Check the sidewall for any unusual appearances that might indicate a deeper problem inside the tyre.
Check the bead and the rubber of the part worn tyre and pay attention to the year of manufacturing as old tyres do not have good rubber quality. These precautions will help you in getting a good tyre without spending heavily on new tyres.