– We buy tyres so that our car has good road adhesion, so to have more safety. Where used rubbers are sold – on scarp yards, on auction sites or on second-hand tyres market – we cannot buy tyres that are safe for use, because nobody checks them. Besides, where would they come from when almost half of drivers check the tyre pressure once a year or not at all, and the tyres that took part in an accident are only suitable for total recycling? This does not apply only to Poland! The incentives of sellers of used tyres, who are looking for quick and easy money, and their assurances of their excellent condition hold no merit, because they do not know their usage history. They do not know for how many kilometres the tyre has operated with too little air pressure or whether or not it was installed in a car that was involved in an accident. Their word is by no means a sufficient guarantee of safety for the driver, to whom they are trying to sell a pig in a poke. Even an unused budget class product from a proven manufacturer will always guarantee a higher level of security than a second-hand tyre. At least it was tested and checked at the factory and has no internal damage – states Piotr Sarnecki, general director of the Polish Tyre Industry Association (PTIA).
1. Unknown history, hidden defects?
Brand new rubbers are meticulously checked at every stage of production – including X-rays of the inner layers to exclude damage to the belt or bead. When choosing brand-new products, we have a guarantee of its manufacturer that the tyres are free from any damage. The is not the case when it comes to used tyres – their sellers have no technical possibility to check their interior, which may conceal damage that is invisible to the naked eye – which can be done for example by driving for several weeks with too low air pressure in the tyre. This, in turn, can cause the tyre to burst while driving!
Unfortunately, even damage of the outer layers of used tyres can be skilfully masked. This is especially easy when it comes to mail orders, where properly taken photos can hide the tread depth or numerous abrasions. Let's also remember that the photos do not necessarily have to show exactly the product that is offered to us in the advertisement – only the same tyre model!
2. Deceptive savings
The savings associated with used tyres are only apparent – they are an unpredictable danger on the road. In addition, their lifespan may be so short that after a few months we will have to buy another set. Nowadays, prices of new tyres can be very low, especially during seasonal sales. After purchasing used tyres – if their damage comes to light, we will not receive a refund.
3. Longer braking distance and higher fuel consumption
When thinking about choosing new tyres we should remember that they are the only element of the car in contact with the road. When traveling at a speed of 130 km/h, the car's adhesion to the road is guaranteed only by an area the size of four envelopes, and the tyres rotate faster than 1000 times per minute. You cannot fool physics – the worse the tyre’s quality, the lower our level of security.
– I strongly encourage drivers to treat the purchase of new tyres as an investment in safety. Good-quality tyres will not only shorten our braking distance, but will also save fuel! With a full tank and on best quality tyres we can get from Władysławowo to Bielsko-Biała, and on the worst – only to Katowice – emphasises Piotr Sarnecki.
4. Tyres are not buns, they do not go stale – the warranty is more important!
New tyres always have manufacturer's warranty – this is an important thing that protects the buyer from hidden defects. Therefore, it does not matter when the tyres were made – the most important thing is that they were unused and properly stored. New tyres don't get damaged when stored – they only wear out during use. It is natural, as they warm up while driving, they are subject to tension resulting from pressure and get deformed when for example they hit a pothole at a high speed. It is therefore important to take care of the right level of pressure and check it at least once a month! Remember that the factory code and production date do not mean the expiry date of the tyre – they are used by producers to identify a given production batch.
5. Important label – used tyres will not guarantee such parameters
Are you planning to buy tyres? Pay attention to at least these three basic parameters – fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise of the tyre. You will find them on the label, which all new tyres sold in the European Union must have since November 2012. Used tyres do not have 100% of properties of a new product. They can have 60% or only in 30% of the declared properties – but nobody can be sure, including their seller.
Source: Polish Tyre Industry Association