A unanimous call for a ban against part-worn tyres has been sounded by members of the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), a UK-based trade association, who are also for tougher regulations relating to part-worn tyres.
In a recent independent survey, about 51% of NTDA’s members have rejected the use of part-worn tyres, even though they have been tested/inspected, and nearly 90% would like to see a ‘licence to sell’ brought in to ‘police’ part-worn tyre dealers. Even then, only 8% of NTDA members would consider selling them.
Most members also agree that the import of part-worn winter tyres should be banned – 78% have called for an environmental protection tariff on tyres discarded by other countries.
Inspections that have been carried out thus far into the sale of part-worn tyres show serious safety breaches, including dangerous and unsafe repairs, exposed cords, bead damage and evidence of runflat damage. In 2015, illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres accounted for more than 40% of all vehicle defect-related deaths in the UK, in addition to 35% of all casualties on the roads caused by vehicle defects.
As the NTDA has previously helped Trading Standards prosecute traders who illegally sell defective part-worn tyres, Stefan Hay, Chief Executive of the NTDA, has unveiled a new marketing campaign following the survey results, which all members have pledged to support.
“A series of striking posters, web banners and adverts using the clear headline ‘NTDA Members Don’t Sell Part-Worn Tyres’ is aimed at consumers, educating them as to why professional and knowledgeable tyre dealerships won’t put their customers at risk by selling them potentially unsafe or defective tyres,” says Hay.
He adds, “We want to help members tell their customers why, as responsible tyre distributors, that part-worn tyres just aren’t an option when you visit an NTDA member. I am pleased and proud our members have responded in this way and look forward to seeing these materials in branches across the UK.”