Part worn tyres don't have the best reputation in the UK - and once you look at the law, the economics and the safety data, it's easy to see why.
Yes - but only under strict conditions. To be sold legally in the UK a part worn tyre must have at least 2mm of tread across all of the upper surface, be free from cuts, bulges, exposed cords, holes and dodgy repairs, pass an inflation test to its maximum pressure, and be permanently marked "PART WORN" in letters at least 4mm high. These rules come from the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994.
This is where part worns fall down. TyreSafe investigations found that 98% of part worn tyres offered for sale were not correctly marked as required, and 16% had potentially dangerous repairs. Many are imported from Europe having already failed to meet the standard to be sold there - and you could be relying on those same tyres to keep you safe.
“We don't sell part worns and we never will. When you don't know a tyre's history - how it was stored, whether it's been repaired, or why it came off another car - you're gambling with the one thing keeping your car on the road. It isn't a saving, it's a risk.”
A new tyre typically starts life with around 8mm of tread. A part worn might legally have as little as 2mm - and since the legal limit for driving is 1.6mm, that can leave you barely any usable life before you're shopping for tyres again. Per millimetre of usable tread, a part worn can actually work out more expensive than a new budget tyre. Cheaper on the day; more expensive down the road.
Buy a new tyre and you have the backing of both the retailer and the manufacturer that it meets UK standards. Buy part worn and there are no such guarantees. If something's wrong, you've little to fall back on.
The scale of unsafe tyres on UK roads is sobering. The NTDA's TyreCheck 2025 survey - the largest of its kind, examining more than 58,000 vehicles at 141 locations - found almost 40% were running on unsafe tyres, with 8% already below the 1.6mm legal limit. Fitting a part worn with minimal tread only adds to that risk.
Don't risk your safety to save a few pounds. We'll quote you fairly on a new premium, mid-range or budget tyre to suit your budget - and best of all, we'll come to you.
Yes, if they meet strict conditions: at least 2mm of tread across the upper surface, permanently marked "PART WORN", free from dangerous damage, and passed an inflation test. In practice, most on sale don't meet these rules.
At least 2mm to be sold legally. As the legal minimum for driving is 1.6mm, you may have very little usable tread left.
On the day they often look cheaper, but per millimetre of usable tread they can cost more than a new budget tyre - and come with no warranty.
No. We don't sell part worn tyres on safety grounds. We fit new premium, mid-range and budget tyres to suit your budget.
Call now for a fast, no-obligation quote - or drop your details in and we'll come back to you.
07772 078 648We'll call you back as soon as we can. For anything urgent, call 07772 078 648.