Sellers continue to flout second-hand tyre rules

Two years after the ban, some tyre shops are still breaking the law by selling used tyres to cash-strapped drivers.

Unlike new tyres, used tyres may display exposed cords, bead damage and evidence of run-flat damage. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // Traders are risking lives by selling cheap, worn-out second-hand car tyres that are banned by law.

At one shop inspected in Sharjah, most of the tyres for sale failed to meet regulations imposed by Esma, the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority.

Tyres have a legal shelf life of five years. They must be able to withstand temperatures up to 50°C, may not be stored in temperatures above 25°C or in stacks, and must have a tread of at least 1.6mm for small vehicles, 0.8mm for motorbikes and 3.2mm for lorries and buses.

The sale of used tyres has been banned under federal law since September 2012, but one trader admitted: “I sell used and new tyres. The part-worn tyres I sell are carefully inspected.

“I would not engage in something that’s going to kill someone.

“I reject a lot of bad tyres and I warn buyers, telling them that their used tyres are good only for a few months. It’s a temporary solution. They’ll need to buy new ones soon.”

However, road safety experts say second-hand tyres with potential defects and an uncertain history are effectively a ticking time bomb.

Thomas Edelman, of Road Safety UAE, said: “In the taxing climate of the UAE, tyres play an important part in road safety. We have all seen tyre debris on the roads, causing dangerous obstacles. Stranded cars with tyre defects are a common sight in the UAE.

“There is no way to tell if a tyre has been driven while overloaded in its previous life, or driven for extended periods while under-inflated, or at excessively high speeds. This misuse can affect the tyre integrity in a way that might not be visible, leading to a possible failure down the road. Used tyres can save money, but they are not worth the risk,” Mr Edelman said.

The hazards often found in non-compliant tyres included exposed cords, bead damage and evidence of run-flat damage.

Some drivers are under the impression that part-worn tyres offer them better value for money. But this is not always the case, safety experts said. Part-worn tyres with little tread mean they will need to be replaced sooner. This adds up to a greater expense over time.

M S, a 22-year-old college student, spoke of his experience using used tyres.

“I didn’t realise that you can actually purchase used tyres in the UAE. I was unemployed. Replacing four tyres would’ve cost me Dh4,000, a sum I couldn’t afford at the time. I trusted the seller. I don’t know if he realised that the one of the tyres he sold me was unsuitable. One morning on my way to college, the tyre burst as I was speeding. I’m lucky that the car didn’t flip over or hurt someone else. I think it was a gift of God.”