Ok, so I want to get my BMW back on the road after failing its MOT earlier this year. All it needs is 2 new rear tyres so I went and did some research. They seem pretty expensive for a car I hardly use so I then looked into partworns. I can get 2 decent brand with 4.5mm of tread for around £40 as opposed to around £200 for new ones. I'm not thinking of using them as a permanent solution as I plan to replace the wheels with bigger ones with new tyres at a later date but for now they seem to do what is required.

Has anyone had any experience with partworns? I've read the guides etc around the net and understand about checking the legals etc.

Just want my BMW back!!

The problem with part worn tyres is that you have no idea of their history or any abuse they have been through, the car they came from could have been a total loss as an example.

 

One of the worst points of running an older luxo barge is the running costs, they are cheap to buy but still have the running costs of a new one. My Audi for example, tyres are more than £100 a corner for cheap tyres running upwards to £200+.

 

As a short term fix, they might be ok given that larger tyres are likely to cost you £500 each in the future.

Yeah I've been offered a set of genuine 19" BMW wheels and tyres for £400 but I'm not in a position to buy them yet, for now I just want to get her back on the road, get her through the MOT, get a new MAF installed as well as getting the AirCon fixed, Cruise Control and a few dodgy bits of trim and rust bubbles.

OK for getting the car through an MOT if you're prepared to drive "on eggshells" for a short time afterwards before you get some new ones.

If you know the previous driver then that's one thing, but as Manny says - anything could have happened to them.

Personally I'd rather use a new "budget" that I would then scrap than risk a damaged "premium" that you're probably inclined to run with unless or until something untoward happens.

If you have the discipline to treat them as "condemned" and change as soon as you can then they have served their purpose.

The only person I would ever buy part-worns off is myself, although its a bit different if they come still mounted on the wheels you're buying as there's less potential for mounting/demounting damage and "scrap attitude".

This is something that makes my blood boil. They should NEVER EVER be allowed to sell part worn tyres, they're an accident waiting to happen & it's a false economy.

This is something that makes my blood boil. They should NEVER EVER be allowed to sell part worn tyres, they're an accident waiting to happen & it's a false economy.

So if you buy a second hand car, do you remove the " part worn" tyres and fit brand new ones do you?

Never buy second hand. Too many ringers etc out there and if I did I would most certainly consider changing the tyres almost immediately.