Are Part Worn Tyres Really Cheaper Tyres?

[geekstation]

Everybody loves a bargain, and motorists frequently hunt for cheap tyres online as it is easier than calling round all the local garages. Some may decide that part worn tyres would be an easy way to save money. Part worn car tyres may seem like a valid option if you are looking for cheap car tyres, but the truth is that you don't really know what you are getting. While they may simply be tyres that another careful motorist has changed for whatever reason while they still have plenty of wear left, part worn tyres don't come with any history.

Frequently, tyres bought as part worns will have come from an accident where the car was written off. This could easily mean the tyre has thinner patches where the driver slammed on the brakes to try to avoid the accident. Uneven wear makes blow outs more likely. Tyres are also brought in from other countries that have cast them off. Not ideal.

Part worn tyres are always a risk. Some of the obvious potential dangers are:

There could be damage you can't see - stress points resulting from previous impacts that could lead to blowouts.
By their very nature part worn tyres will be older, and like many things, tyres have a shelf life.
If it turns out that there is something wrong with your tyres which leads to an accident, your car insurance will be invalidated.
While many people choose partworn tyres hoping to save money, the fact is that in the long run they are likely to cost you more. As they have less tread remaining on them, you will need to make more trips to have tyres fitted, costing you more in fuel and in the cost of tyres. The part worn tyres are more likely to suffer blow outs, which at best would cost you a replacement Cheap MOT, and at worst could lead to an accident.

Finally, as part worn tyres will usually only have 3mm tread left on them, leaving only 1.4mm left before they are illegal, they will naturally need to be replaced more frequently, and as tyre performance essentially falls off a cliff below 3mm, your stopping distances will also be longer. At only 50mph on a wet road, worn tyres will add as much as two car lengths to your stopping distance. That could easily be the difference between an accident and a near miss. There are easier ways to save money on tyres - searching for cheap car tyres online can save you money without compromising your safety.