Before you buy part worn tyres there are a few things you need to know. First of all these partially worn tyres are simple second hand tyres, used tyres that still have some life in them. For people who are not able to purchase brand new tyres this is a great option to maintain tyres for the vehicle.

Unfortunately, if you are a resident of the United Kingdom you may not purchase part worn tyres unless they have met the Motor Vehicle Tyres Safety Regulations of 1994 which states that a part worn tyre must not have any of the following:

• Any cuts that are longer than 25 mm, which is 10% of the width of the tyre. These types of cuts would be deep enough to get down into the steel belt itself.
• Any lumps, bulges or tears. These are usually caused by a separation of the structure of the tyre.
• Any places where penetration has occurred or that are showing steel belt.

Part worn tyres must be properly marked

• They must possess all original markings showing the make and model, as well as the speed rating and weight rating.
• The tyres must have “part worn” written on them in Capital Letters that stand at least 4 mm high and these must be written in permanent ink, not carved into the tyres.

The most important thing for you as the potential buyer of part worn tyres is safety. How will you know that the tyres you may be considering purchasing are safe, that the previous owner was not some crazed pot hole hitting maniac. Remember that the tyres are your point of contact to the road, if they do not have all the treads or have cuts they will potentially be a hazard to you and may even cause your death.

Items to check on part worn tyres before you purchase

Make sure that the tread is in good shape and has its grooves in place and not rubbed down to a nub. Tread is what keeps your car on the road when you are driving in watery conditions such as heavy storms. Next, check the carcass of the tyre. This is the steel belt and fabric it is woven into that is attached to the rubber of the tyre. This part of the tyre must be in almost perfect shape in order to be a safe tyre. Look for bubbles, or any uneven areas, if you find this look for another tyre.

Check inside the tyre for any powder or granules. To do this take the sides of the tyre and pull apart and then look inside. This is really only done if the tyre is not mounted on a wheel yet. Next, check the sidewall of the tire for any signs of having been rubbed on the curb or cut. If the writing is not visible on the sidewall, this is a good indication that the tyre has been damaged while the car it was on previously was going around corners and may have been due to under inflation. Another part of the tyre to check is the bead. The bead is where the rubber of the tyre meets the steel belt; make sure there are no signs of damage here as well, such as separation. Finally, check the rubber itself on the tyre for any signs of accidental rubbing.

The basic idea when purchasing part worn tyres is to be on the lookout for any type of damage or extreme wear on the tyre. It will be a good idea to look for reputable businesses that deal in part worn tyres and have a good customer base to speak for it. The happier the customers are, the better the tyres they buy must be. And it is always preferable if possible to purchase new tyres instead. New tyres will give you a warranty and the complete knowledge that you are safe on the road.

Even better, if you are able to purchase the part worn tyres from a person whom you know, as this will really allow you to know the history of the tyre. A place that is not good to purchase from is an online auction website such as eBay because you will not be able to look the tyres over for damage before you purchase and will have to buy pretty much sight unseen, this is because the seller will only list a photo showing the tyre to its best advantage. Not all sellers are like this, but it pays to be extremely cautious in this purchase situation. Also, when you are purchasing from a retail like setting make sure you have some type of receipt to show where you bought the part worn tyres from incase they do become unstable or show signs of wear that do not meet the Tyre Safety Regulation requirements.