An inspection operation targeting sellers of part-worn tyres is said to have uncovered systematic non-compliance.
Every business inspected by a joint operation between Dudley Council Trading Standards and charity TyreSafe was found to be failing basic safety and legal standards.
The operation saw officers and technical experts, supported by West Midlands Police, conducting unannounced safety audits across retailers, following preliminary advisory visits.
The inspections revealed a 100% failure rate across the board, with violations including illegal and dangerous string repairs, non-repairable punctures in sidewalls and shoulders, missing or temporary ‘PART-WORN’ markings, incorrect pressure testing, severely aged and hardened rubber, and tyres with tread depth below the legal minimum limit.
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Under the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, part-worn tyres must undergo thorough pre-sale inflation testing, have a minimum 2mm tread depth, be structurally sound, and feature a permanent uppercase ‘PART-WORN’ stamp.
Following the inspections, traders were issued with individual Trader Notices providing feedback on the visits, including specific areas of concern and non-compliance and operational guidance on meeting legal obligations.
Dudley Trading Standards and TyreSafe said they were using the case study to encourage other UK local authorities to prioritise joint part-worn tyre enforcement.
Findings ‘deeply concerning’
Laura Reuben, public protection manager at Dudley Council, said: “The findings of this operation are deeply concerning. Consumers purchasing part-worn tyres often assume they are buying a safe, legal alternative to pass an MOT or save money, but our joint checks show a widespread disregard for basic safety laws.
“Educational visits alone have proven insufficient, and we will not hesitate to use our formal enforcement powers to protect motorists from dangerous stock.”
Stuart Lovatt, chair at TyreSafe, said: “This operation with Dudley Trading Standards exposes a stark reality: 100% non-compliance among the retailers audited, even after receiving compliance advice.
“Dangerous tyres on the road pose an immediate threat to driver and pedestrian safety. We urge local authorities across the UK to follow Dudley’s lead and integrate targeted, unannounced part-worn checks into their enforcement schedules.”