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