Worn tyres can be 'frighteningly dangerous'
With the UK entering a double-dip recession many of the country's motorists could be tempted to cut corners in order to save some much-needed cash.
While there are many things drivers can do to protect their wallets, compromising on safety should not be one of them.
It is with this in mind that leading safety campaign group TyreSafe has urged cash-strapped car owners to scrimp when it comes to replace their tyres.
According to the firm, opting for second-hand or worn tyres is a false economy, as while they are cheaper than new tyres, you will ultimately pay in the long run.
Opting for anything other than safe tyres will put drivers and passengers at risk and could also have a detrimental impact on a car.
The comments follow a month-long investigation, which revealed that 98 per cent of part-worn tyres sold in the UK are not legally safe to use.
According to the study, a third of the tyres bought had potentially-dangerous damage.
Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said that while there are strict and clear regulations in place governing the sale of part-worn tyres, it is obvious that they are not being adhered to.
"Not only are drivers putting their own lives at risk, but they are also endangering their passengers, which in many cases may be their children, and other road users," he explained.
"Before buying part-worn tyres I would urge drivers to ask themselves if the risk of buying part worn tyres is really worth it."
Mr Jackson also said that the notion that part-worn tyres offer better value is a myth.
He explained that the group's research found that the average cost per millimetre of useable tread on a used tyre was £6.33, while the price was 16 per cent lower at £5.32 when buying new tyres.
Posted by Sebastian Turkenburg