The need for the annual tyre safety campaign in October has once again been underlined by the research carried out by the TyreSafe team and the evidence collated. TyreSafe and tyre safety awareness depend on support to drive the change in attitudes needed to help reduce the number of tyre-related incidents on our roads.

The most significant of those is the results from the second phase of the survey of tyre tread depth at the point of replacement in partnership with Highways England. Over 340,000 tyres have now been surveyed by over 800 retailers across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales confirming the findings of the first phase, that more than one-in-four British motorists are replacing their tyres when they were already illegal. In 2016, that equates to potentially over 10 million illegal and dangerous tyres on Britain’s roads. In combination with the number of casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents, the MoT failure rate due to defective tyres, and surveys of British motorists’ awareness of tyre safety issues, there is unquestionable evidence that attitudes need to change.

In addition to the fact that routine tyre checks would prevent many of these incidents, this evidence has been the inspiration behind this year’s Tyre Safety Month campaign – Don’t chance it, Check it.

 

Key messages

While the need to carry out regular tyre checks may seem obvious an alarming number of Britain’s motorists are replacing their tyres only when they have already become illegal and dangerous. If they carried out TyreChecks, this avoidable safety issue could be rectified.

 

• Potentially over 10 million illegal and dangerous tyres could be on Britain’s roads in 2016

• Tread depth has a decisive influence on the way your vehicle accelerates, brakes and corners

• Safe tyres with legal tread depth will reduce the risks to you, your passengers and all road users

• Driving on tyres with illegal tread depth not only reduces your safety on the road but also risks a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre

•  

Facts & figures

TyreSafe’s survey found that more than 27% of people replaced their tyres when they were already illegal, that could mean over 10 million illegal and dangerous tyres on Britain’s roads in 2016.

• The total number of casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents over last five reported years* is 5,677 of which 989 people were killed or seriously injured, annually averaging 1135 and 198 respectively

• Where casualties arise from an accident caused by a vehicle defect, tyres are the single largest contributory factor over the last five reported years*, accounting for 36% of the total

• The estimated cost of tyre-related incidents to the economy over the last five reported years* is £416 million, averaging £83.2 million annually

• Annually, 2.2 million cars fail the MoT due to tyre-related defects**

• TyreSafe’s survey in partnership with Highways England revealed potentially up to 10 million, or more than one-in-four cars and vans on Britain’s roads, was driven with an illegal and dangerous tyre in 2016***

*DfT five years to 2014  **DVSA 2012 to 2014     ***Phase one and two of the TyreSafe survey in partnership with Highways England

 

NTDA Part Worn Tyre Campaign

 

In September 2013, the then NTDA Vice Chairman and now Chairman, Roger Griggs, wrote to NTDA members regarding the NTDA Part Worn Tyre Campaign and the proposal of a voluntary levy on members to create a “fighting fund” to combat the trade in illegal and dangerous part worn tyres.

In the autumn of 2013, the Association initially earmarked £5,000, from member’s funds, to help fund Trading Standards Officers, across the UK, to investigate unscrupulous part worn tyre dealers.

The primary objectives of this campaign are:

 

• To raise awareness amongst Trading Standards Officers regarding part worn tyre dealers and the lack of compliance with relevant regulations;

• To raise public awareness of the dangers associated with some part worn tyres;

• To remove illegal, dangerous and defective tyres from the part worn market;

• To encourage, where necessary, enforcement action and prosecution of unscrupulous part worn dealers, operating illegally, and put them out of business;

• To position the NTDA in a leadership role and its members at the forefront of industry best practice;

• To encourage consumers to use NTDA members for their tyre purchase and associated fitting services and make part worn tyres a highly UNATTRACTIVE option;

• To encourage industry to unite in best practice.

 

Since December 2013, joint inspections with Trading Standards Officers have been carried out in Bristol, Lincolnshire, Sandwell, St. Helens, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Derbyshire and North Lanarkshire.

Thousands of part worn tyres have already been inspected with the vast majority, circa 98%, found to be non-compliant with the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

Many of the vendors identified in these investigations have been arrested, prosecuted and many more face enforcement actions. It should be noted, that no region and no tyre depot is exempt from these random inspections and the NTDA already has planned Trading Standards inspections scheduled in several other regions.

The initial budget of £5,000 has been spent and so NTDA members have now started to contribute the voluntary £15 per depot levy to raise further funds in order to widen the scope of the part worn campaign. Recognising the tangible benefits, NTDA members are supporting this campaign with growing enthusiasm and the NTDA is now urging manufacturers and other industry professionals to do so also.

NTDA Director Stefan Hay said: “We are very pleased with the success of this campaign to date and now have a great opportunity to actively augment it, specifically in disseminating, to industry and consumers, the results and the ‘DANGER’ message.”

 

Part Worn Tyres and the Law

 

Under The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 (reg.7.) which are part of the Consumer Protection Act, it is an offence for anyone to sell part worn tyres that do not meet the following principal requirements:

 

• The structural integrity must not be compromised.

• It should be free of large cuts, any bulges or lumps both internally and externally.

• No plies or cords should be exposed.

• Tyres must have passed an inflation test prior to sale.

• The original grooves must still be clearly visible in their entirety and must be to a depth of at least 2mm across the full breadth of the tread, around its entire circumference.

• Part worn tyres which have not been re-treaded must clearly show the relevant ‘E’ mark alongside which ‘PART-WORN’ must be permanently and legibly applied in letters at least 4mm high.

• These words cannot be hot branded or cut into the tyre

 

Part-worn tyres that have been re-treaded must have one of the following:

 

• BS AU 144b, 144c, 144d, or 144e markings on the side wall (if first supplied as a re-tread on or before 31 December 2003 an ECE approval mark (if first supplied as a re-tread on or after 1 January 2004)

• A permanent mark to identify the original model and manufacturer, the word ‘RETREAD’ moulded onto or into its sidewall (in upper case letters at least 4mm high) and further markings in accordance with ECE rules. You may need to seek further advice as to which rules apply

• The indication ‘PART WORN’ must also appear next to the BS or ECE approval mark, or next to the word ‘RETREAD’

• For tyres marked BS AU 144e, a speed category symbol and load capacity marking should be present.

• A tyre has to comply with all these requirements whether or not it is fitted to a rim.

 

- See more at: http://www.ntda.co.uk/useful-links/part-worn-tyres/#sthash.rcmC69wD.dpuf

 

 

TyreSafe warn drivers of the dangers of part worn tyres

 

After conducting an investigation into the sale of part worn tyres in the UK, TyreSafe have uncovered some worrying data

 

TyreSafe, one of the UK's leading tyre safety organisations, has recently conducted an investigation into part worn tyres in the UK, which has uncovered some startling figures.

The investigation revealed that:

 

• 98% were being sold illegally

• 16% contained dangerous or unsafe repairs

• 18% contained other potentially lethal forms of damage or non-compliance.

 

The key message that TyreSafe are hoping to put across to UK drivers is that part worn tyres are much less trustworthy than new tyres, as part worn tyres are not required to be examined by x-ray for internal damage. This can compromise tyre safety. Although there are laws which restrict the sale of part worn tyres that do not meet certain safety criteria, the investigation clearly shows that many sellers of part worn tyres are cutting corners on this front.

Many drivers believe that part worn tyres offer better value for money, although TyreSafe are hoping to dispel this myth by pointing out that this is often not the case. Where new tyres are sold with 8mm of tread, part worn tyres may have as little as 2mm of tread (the legal minimum is 1.6 mm).With this in mind, a part worn tyre may need to be replaced sooner than a new tyre, which would add up to a greater overall expense.

Christine Joyce, manager at TyreSafe, gave the following comment regarding the issue of part worn tyres: ‘While there are a number of rules in place which govern the sale of part worn tyres, our investigations have proven these are not being adhered to, placing drivers and other road users at great risk. Most people assume when buying part worn tyres, they are in good nick, but as we’ve found out, this may not be the case. Consequently we advise that the safest option when replacing your tyres is to always fit brand new ones.’

This information is particularly relevant when we are experiencing wet weather, as braking distance on wet roads is significantly higher with part worn tyres when compared with new tyres – almost 12m longer than a new tyre from 50mph as uncovered by the TyreSafe investigation.

If you are considering buying a part worn tyre, we urge you to first consider the benefits of buying new, or to ensure that the part worn tyres meet the safety criteria legislation so that you can stay safe on the roads.