The Sale of Safe Part-Worn Tyres
The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, as amended,
set out minimum safety standards for the supply of part-worn tyres.
To comply, it is important that you and your staff are fully aware
of these Regulations.
Under the Regulations, it is illegal to supply any part-worn
tyre that is capable of being fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer
unless the following conditions are met.
Marking
Part-worn tyres (except retreads) should have an EC approval
mark (for example E11) and a speed and load capacity index (for
example 76 S), moulded into the side wall at the time of
manufacture.
In addition, all types of part-worn tyres must be marked
'PART-WORN' in upper case letters at least 4mm
high.
This wording must be permanently and legibly applied to the tyre,
otherwise than by hot- branding or cutting into the tyre and
adjacent to every approval mark.
Rubber labels can be cold-vulcanised to the tyre and are available
from companies that advertise in the trade press.
Condition
Part-worn tyres, whether deflated, or inflated to the highest
operating pressure at which they are designed to operate, must not
have:
- any cut over 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre,
whichever is the greater, on the outside of the tyre, deep enough
to reach the ply or cord;
- any internal or external lump, bulge or tear caused by
separation or partial failure of its structure;
- any ply or cord exposed internally or externally;
- any penetration damage that has not been repaired.
In addition, the grooves of the original tread pattern of the
tyre must be at least 2mm deep across the full breadth of the tread
and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre.
Part Worn Retreaded Tyres
Part-worn tyres that have been retreaded must have:
- BS AU 144b, 144c, 144d, or 144e markings on the side wall,
or
- an ECE approval mark, or
- 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 the requirements detailed
above whether or not it is fitted to a rim.
We recommend that a thorough
inspection of the tyre must be made before
fitting to the rim, AND after
fitting and inflating the tyre to the highest operating
pressure. Tyres which are sold unfitted will need to be
inspected with particular care, as it is still an offence to supply
tyres with the defects listed above which become detectable when
the tyre is inflated. Inflation and inspection is
recommended.
Repaired tyres
If a tyre has been repaired, it
must have been properly repaired.
Any tyre that has been repaired should be inspected very carefully.
Repairs need to comply with BS AU 159f, 1997 - Repairs to
Tyres on the Public Highway. If you are not competent to
judge a repair, we suggest the tyre is disposed of.
Tyres in
storage
It is also illegal to have unsafe
tyres in possession for sale, so you will need to be clear what is
and what is not for sale. If you have tyres in storage, but not
intended for sale, they should be clearly marked as such.
Penalties
Conviction could render you liable
to a penalty of six months imprisonment, a fine of
up to £5,000 or both.
