Used car WARNING - Shock reason you should never buy secondhand car tyres

Motorists on the roads in Britain are being warned about the dangers of buying used car tyres. Many motorists may opt to purchase secondhand vehicle tyres instead of new ones as they could be perceived to be the most cost-effective. Around one in five vehicle owners have purchased part worn tyres and 10 per cent would do so again. Part of the reason for this could be due to a large proportion of drivers (62 per cent) are unaware of the legal minimum tread depth for tyres.Drivers can be fined £2,500 and land three penalty points for every defective car tyre their vehicle has. The legal minimum tread depth of car tyres is 1.6mm.

A survey by the AA showed four in 10 drivers were unsure that new tyres have 8mm of tread depth while used cars can be sold with as little as 2mm of rubber.

This only leaves 0.4mm of wear before they can be deemed illegal and must be legally replaced.The survey also found that one in five (21 per cent) of car owners believe that used car tyres sold in Britain must comply with the law. A recent study found that 98 per cent of all second-hand tyres aren't compliant.New research by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents suggests that when tyres are worn down to the minimum tread depth can take up to 50 per cent longer to stop on a normal dry road.

AA Cars boss James Fairclough said: “It’s clear that a number of prevailing myths about part-worns continue to underpin their sales.

“The safety case for buying new instead of used tyres is well-documented but it’s important that drivers understand the argument that part-worns offer better value for money is a fallacy, too.

“Second-hand tyres might be cheaper, but the tread left on these tyres is typically less, meaning you’ll be looking for more replacements in no time at all.“It’s also worth considering that a large proportion of the second-hand stock in the UK fails to meet the minimum legal safety standards.”

Fairclough added: “It’s often hard to discern whether tyres are up to scratch, so a few simple checks can put your mind at ease – like the ‘20p test’.

“This helps to establish at a glance the depth of tread left on the tyres as the tread should be above the outer band of the coin when a 20p piece is inserted between the treads of the tyre.

“If you see any bumps or bulges in the sidewall of the tyre, it’s important that you don’t drive the car as these tyres aren’t roadworthy and can be very dangerous.

“Check your car’s tyres regularly and keep them properly inflated to make them as safe as possible.”