Safety law on part worn tyres

What is the law that covers part worn tyres?

The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994

When does it come into force?

The most recent controls on the supply of part-worn tyres came into force on the 1st June 1995.

Why do we need these new controls?

Safe tyres are a vital element in safe driving. Work carried out in the past by Trading Standards Officers has shown that sales of part-worn tyres can be a particular problem.

What happens if a trader supplies an illegal part worn tyre?

It is a criminal offence to supply (which includes offering, agreeing, exposing or possessing for supply) a part-worn tyre which does not meet the requirements. Any trader breaching the new controls could be liable to prosecution.

The maximum penalty on summary conviction is a fine of £5000 and/or six months imprisonment. In addition offending tyres are liable to seizure and forfeiture.

What should a trader do to comply with the law?

All sellers of part-worn tyres should take positive steps to ensure that all the part-worn tyres they stock for supply meet the requirements of the Regulations.

Included in this guidance note is information giving outlines of these requirements. You are advised to take account of them whenever you are buying-in part-worn tyres for selling on.

Check the condition of the tyre. If it is not up to standard, or if you have any doubts, reject it. Though not required by the Regulations it would be advisable to positively mark such tyres as rejected. This could help avoid confusion and mistakes.

Ensure that all relevant staff are made aware of these requirements.

REMEMBER

The responsibility is yours
Trading Standards officer will be carrying out checks in future
Action will be taken against traders found to be in breach of the controls
Seek further advice if it is required

THIS ADVICE IS INTENDED FOR GUIDANCE ONLY. IT IS NOT AN AUTHORITATIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW AND IT MAY BE SUBJECT TO REVISION OR AMENDMENT IN FUTURE

Part worn tyres must not have any of the following defects:

any cuts bigger than 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre - measured on the outside and deep enough to reach the ply or cord
any internal lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial separation of the structure
any of the ply or cord exposed internally or externally

NOTE: The tyre must not exhibit any of the above defects when inflated to the highest pressure at which it is designed to operate.

Tread

the base of any groove of the original tread pattern must be clearly visible
the tyre must have at least 2 millimetres of the original tread pattern

Marking

if the tyre has not been retreaded it must bear the relevant approval mark, a speed category symbol and the load-capacity index, OR
if the tyre has been retreaded it must bear the Mark BS AU 144b, BS AU 144c, BS AU 144d or BS AU 144e, AND
immediately next to the mark referred to above, the tyre must bear the words "PART-WORN" in capital letters at least 4 millimetres high. This mark must be permanently and legibly applied to the tyre but NOT by hot branding or otherwise cutting the tyre

Repairs

any repairs must have been properly carried out - to the standard required by BS AU 159e: 1990

There are some limited exceptions that apply in particular circumstances but in general all part-worn tyres for supply must meet the above requirements.

Please note that this information is for guidance only and is not a full interpretation of the law which only a court of law can give.

This page was last updated on 15 December 2011