Council official concerned at sale of faulty tyres given safety issues

Paul McSwiggan, Senior Environment Officer at Derry City Council said the results were cause for concern.

“A number of part worn tyres (3 out 37 or 8 per cent) tested fully complied however despite previous advice provided as part of the survey undertaken in September 2012, the test purchase exercise has revealed that the vast majority of part worn tyres sampled failed to comply with The Motor Vehicle Tyre (Safety) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

“A staggering 35 per cent (13 out of 37) of all part-worn tyres tested had serious faults that would potentially affect the safety of the tyre.”

Back in October 2011, the Sentinel reported how 57 per cent - four out of seven - Londonderry tyre retailers were found to be selling part-worn tyres, which didn’t comply with regulations.

Last year a Derry City Council survey found nearly two thirds of used tyre retailers in Londonderry were found to have been breaking the law by flogging cut price part worn tyres for between £15 and £20 but not labelling them as such.

So from 2012, Environmental Health Officers across the 26 District Councils in Northern Ireland took part in a survey exercise to assess part worn tyre retailers compliance with the Motor Vehicle Tyre (Safety) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

In December 2012, 18 District Councils purchased 37 part-worn tyres for testing.

They found: 92 per cent (34 out of 37) of all part-worn tyres tested failed to meet fully the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Tyre (Safety) Regulations 1994 (as amended); 57 per cent (21 out of 37) of part-worn tyres tested failed with regard to labelling alone; 22 per cent (8 out of 37) of all part-worn tyres tested failed to meet the requirements of Section 7(5) ‘the grooves of the original tread pattern of the tyre must be of a depth of at least 2 millimetres across the full breadth of the tread and round the entire circumference of the tyre;’ 22 per cent (8 out of 37) of all part-worn tyres tested failed to meet the requirements of Section 7(2) ‘the tyre must not have – a) any cut in excess of 25 millimetres or 10 per cent of the section width of the tyre, whichever is the greater, measured in any direction on the outside of the tyre and deep enough to reach the ply or cord; b) any internal or external lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure; or c) any of the ply or cord exposed internally or externally; d) any penetration damage which has not been repaired.

Mr McSwiggan said: “Recommendations were also made to all sellers of part-worn tyres that they should take positive steps to ensure that all part-worn tyres they stock for supply, meet the requirements of the regulations and ensure that all relevant staff is made aware of these requirements.”

Visit: www.tyresafe.org