Motorists up and down the country have responded to a new study from Kwik-Fit and highlighted their experiences of using part-worn tyres, with a significant proportion of motorists experiencing problems.

According to the organisation's findings, nearly three million vehicle owners (nine per cent) have made use of part-worn tyres in the past 12 months, while more than one-fifth (22 per cent) of drivers have done so at some point during their motoring lives.

Out of this group, as many as one-third – one million motorists – failed their subsequent MOT as a result of damage to their tyres, which they felt was an issue already present when they were fitted.

Other major problems faced by part-worn tyre users included a loss of grip by 657,000 respondents and motorists being involved in an accident as a result of unresponsive handling in 475,000 cases.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, commented: "There comes a point where cutting costs can compromise safety and this is especially true with tyres.

"After all, these are the only thing connecting a car with the road, so we urge drivers to consider whether they really need to opt for the unknown quality of second hand tyres."

He added that in many cases, investing in part-worn tyres can be a false economy for vehicle operators, as the money they are saving at the time could lead to serious issues further down the line, not least of which is the possibility of being involved in a serious accident.

Overall, 83 per cent of respondents to Kwik-Fit's study claimed they would not consider purchasing part-worn tyres as a result of a potential safety risk, but this means that almost one-fifth of motorists would.

It is not illegal for individuals to buy part-worn tyres, but it is important for all those who choose to do so to get their tyres from a reputable supplier.

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MileageCount, the Fuel Card Group's fleet management solution offers Duty of Care support including licence checking, driver training and policy management. Let us help you today.

This story was posted by Daniel Crosby, Assistant Marketing Executive at the Fuel Card Group.