Well as a testament to not buying part worn these two "hardly used" Michelin tyres with "6mm of tread and 3 years old" were in fact 25 years old, had 3mm of tread and dangerous cracking.

So new is best 👍

Driving my car back to the dealer for a return with £20 part-worn Linglong's was an eye-opening experience. I don't think I crossed 55mph the entire time, and driving through the soaking wet countryside (thanks M25 closure) was actually quite unpleasant.

Without wishing to come across poorly - if you can't afford new tyres, I don't think you can afford to run a/the car. They are a safety critical item and if a part-worn tyre fails, it is not just your own life that you are putting at risk.

I look at it this way - you don't buy part-worn clutches, wipers or brakes, do you? Part-worn tyres often have "lots of life left in them", but so do part-worn brake discs, pads and every other consumable on a car. Ultimately, you might find some part-worn tyres that are in great condition! I have personally sold a couple surplus tyres that had nothing wrong with them - but, you might not be so lucky.

Those four tyres are the one thing between you and the road. You don't see part-used parachutes, lifeboats or helmets!

Do you really want to gamble your life by saving £40 per corner? I know I don't.

15 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

Without wishing to come across poorly

Wishing or not you have done.

You yourself are driving on part worn tyres.

17 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

I don't think you can afford to run a/the car.

Thankfully being judgemental does not make you the judge.

My tyres haven't been subject to abuse, mistreatment, long periods of sitting, chemicals, damage or whatever else happens to some part-worn tyres. By their very nature, they are safety critical items that are consumable/perishable - buying them without any knowledge of their history and condition (beyond what you can see) is not a sensible idea.

As per my previous comment, do you buy part-worn brake discs, pads, clutches, spark plug or other such consumable items? You yourself are driving with part-worn components, so why not go to a breakers yard the next time your Yeti needs discs?

If you phoned up a dealership and asked for a part-service, you know what the answer would be.

In the day of easy credit (although that has ended now), there is no excuse for not being able to "afford" new tyres, if you can afford an MOT, tax, insurance, service, fuel and whatever else needed to run a car.

As before, tyres are a safety critical item that, if fail, can impact others beyond yourself.

This is of course not to mention the elephant in the room - these part-worn tyres, where do they come from? From other people's cars, yes? So why did they change them... It goes back to a previous comment - just because a tyre is legal, does not mean it is safe.

The only reason for part worn tyres to exist, is retread examples for use on commercial vehicles, that have a far thicker tread/carcass than passenger car tyres.

Amazing!

You are telling me I should buy tyres on credit now, given I have had no income since the confinement I have a feeling I know what the answer would be were I to seek credit.

I would happily buy and use good used brake discs from a breakers yard but they would cost more than new here.

12 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

The only reason for part worn tyres to exist, is retread examples for use on commercial vehicles, that have a far thicker tread/carcass than passenger car tyres.

The people making their living through the resale of part worn tyres and their tens of thousands of customers disprove that.

Try being a little less judgemental of others.

Last 6 tyres for 3 different cars that I've bought have been part worns.

Mostly less than 3 years old and most looked barely driven on, with 7mm tread.

Lots of cars getting scrapped just after new tyres were fitted, for reasons nothing to do with the tyres.

We didn't buy the tyres. They just sounded great being under 3 years, loads of tread and top make sold locally so we took a look.

I'm sure the tyre fitter would have flagged them up had I not picked up on how far off the truth the description was.

A pair of Uniroyals are £130 so that's what we will go with.

Thanks again for the comments it's been really useful

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Amazing!

You are telling me I should buy tyres on credit now, given I have had no income since the confinement I have a feeling I know what the answer would be were I to seek credit.

I would happily buy and use good used brake discs from a breakers yard but they would cost more than new here.

The people making their living through the resale of part worn tyres and their tens of thousands of customers disprove that.

Try being a little less judgemental of others.

Makes you laugh really jr ,years ago we all had part worn stuff on our cars when the uk was full of scrap yards ,such alot of guff talked about tyres on forums .

27 minutes ago, Mickvrs220 said:

Makes you laugh really jr ,years ago we all had part worn stuff on our cars when the uk was full of scrap yards ,such alot of guff talked about tyres on forums .

And I think that there is the difference.

Years ago you were far less likely to pick up a “bad tyre” - times have changed, and in the automotive world people are far more exploitative. That’s not to mention cars are heavier.

You’re all entitled to your opinion - that’s the joy of the internet. There have been disagreements before and there will be disagreements again.

Certainly, you all seem to have missed my point. I am not saying part-worn tyres are bad. Indeed, there’s nothing wrong with them! I am saying that due to so many factors, there is a much higher chance of you picking up tyres that are in some way defective or compromised. Of course, the front tyres from a brand new rear-ended car are fine - but how do you know they’re from that and not sat in someone’s shed for 15 years?

Maybe I’m more fortunate than some of you. Given the multitude of expenses that cars require, I just don’t think the benefit of saving £50 outweighs the potential risk.

OP - sounds like you understand my point. Uniroyal are perfectly suitable tyres (owned by Michelin). Apologies for hijacking your thread.

16 hours ago, Tailhappy said:

Well as a testament to not buying part worn these two "hardly used" Michelin tyres with "6mm of tread and 3 years old" were in fact 25 years old, had 3mm of tread and dangerous cracking.

So new is best 👍

If it's not a mistake you have got to wonder what is up with someone that thought those tyres were suitable for sale, even for off-toad mud-plugging sports use.

As far as part worn , used etc I give away tyres from every new car I get. I take off the rubbish tyres that the car comes with and sometimes within days and sometimes a week or 3 all season are fitted. The tyres coming off are left with the fitter to sell or give away. These are branded OME tyres and Summer tyres, well all seasons really standard UK fit not great in adverse weather conditions often even though like for like replacements might cost twice the price of a nice safe All year round in the UK including the winter tyres. I have over the years swapped tyres that are take offs for tyres that were take offs from other new or nearly new cars. Things are not black or white or the same for everyone. Being a regular customer at tyre fitting places that are local businesses for local people and being generous to the Christmas party or Tea tin can make a difference.

Edited 3 April3 Apr by Ootohere

Next time you are walking past a row of cars take a look at what's fitted.

New cars have the factory Michelin or Continental. Older cars have mismatched no-name tyres with old scuffed sidewalls and mostly low on air. These are the tyres that will be hitting the motorway, loaded with family in the summer.

Definitely it was hard to buy a poor tyre in the 90's and early 2000's. It was either a decent make or you had remoulds like Goldline which were terrible to drive on.

Now most cars are fitted with the absolute cheapest tyres and on top of that they are not maintained.

Ignore.

Edited 2 April2 Apr by tetley

20* years ago I'd be in a local tyre fitting place that also dealt with performance cars and you'd have owners of new(ish) heavy performance Merc, Range Rovers and the like drivers in asking for one or two tyres to be replaced and looking to go to lower (lowest) priced offerings, they have always driven among us.

Even much newer cars can have mismatched tyres now and older and much older cars have good quality and condition set of four same tyres on them, it all depends on the owner/driver and often has little or nothing to do with if they can afford it or not (or claim not to).

My neighbour had some Chinese tyres on his TR7/8 that were IIRC from the late 90s, they came with the wheels he bought, from a different make and model of car, many years before, they were more like rocks, I said at the time the Russians would want them for their military vehicles where the tyres were failing from being used to invade Ukraine, I think the Russian Generals had been on the fiddle with procurement (from China?).

Memories. Sometimes a lovely story but missing the passage of time. The year 2000 was 25 years ago and 1975 50 years ago. There were new cars on sh!te tyres right through the past 5 decades and Michelin manufactured plenty in France or Dundee. Bridgestone horror shows have been getting fitted to small or large 4,X4,s for decades and still are.

Edited 2 April2 Apr by Ootohere

1 hour ago, nta16 said:

20* years ago I'd be in a local tyre fitting place that also dealt with performance cars and you'd have owners of new(ish) heavy performance Merc, Range Rovers and the like drivers in asking for one or two tyres to be replaced and looking to go to lower (lowest) priced offerings, they have always driven among us.

Even much newer cars can have mismatched tyres now and older and much older cars have good quality and condition set of four same tyres on them, it all depends on the owner/driver and often has little or nothing to do with if they can afford it or not (or claim not to).

My neighbour had some Chinese tyres on his TR7/8 that were IIRC from the late 90s, they came with the wheels he bought, from a different make and model of car, many years before, they were more like rocks, I said at the time the Russians would want them for their military vehicles where the tyres were failing from being used to invade Ukraine, I think the Russian Generals had been on the fiddle with procurement (from China?).

Completely true, and perhaps speaks to the attitudes of some (such as those willing to fit discs from a breakers yard). Maybe it's something they choose to do, however I definitely don't feel the same. As with everything, it depends where you get part-worn tyres from. Certainly, in my experience, the only part-worn tyre places I've seen aren't exactly main dealer certified.

I stand by everything I said - if you MOT/tax/insure/service/fuel a car, then there is no excuse to be fitting sub standard tyres. On a soaking wet, pitch black motorway, it is far better to know your life is riding on quality, good condition rubber, than anything else.

Having been on a response shift a few months ago and seen what was left of someone at an RTC after a heavily-worn tyre failed and put him into a motorway barrier at 80mph, I couldn't possibly accept the idea of part-worn tyres, or an other safety equipment. As I said before, if I had my way, I'd ban part-worn tyres, except for those that are somehow certified/approved and guaranteed to be sound.

There is no argument in which financial or environmental factors justify an increase to the risk of a fatality.

For those that still argue otherwise please, come on a shift and see firsthand for yourself. After a few days with the RPU I guarantee you'll change your tune. As @Ootohere says, time has moved on. Cheap tyres are cheaper, cars are heavier, speeds are higher and maintenance is often worse. Don't risk it.

On a happier note - while at uni a few years ago, I worked part time with a detailer. We mainly did supercars, with the likes of Lambo/Ferrari/Porsche/McLaren/etc being commonplace. Most of the cars had £500 a pop Michelin Cup 2 or whatever on them, but there was this one guy (crypto millionaire, no clue about cars aside from their status, really) that would run the cheapest tyres possible. I'll never forget seeing a 325/35R22 unknown brand on a £500,000 Mansory Urus... the mind boggles. Mind you, this was the guy that would floor his brand new Purosangue (one of the first in the UK) in December, on a cold start, after just turning it on. He put it into a wall a few months later - something about the tyres on a RWD-bias 700bhp V12 not being warm. Says all you need to know, really.

Edited 2 April2 Apr by OccyVRS

8 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

I am not saying part-worn tyres are bad.

No, just the people who choose to use them.

1 hour ago, OccyVRS said:

speaks to the attitudes of some (such as those willing to fit discs from a breakers yard)

1 hour ago, OccyVRS said:

if you MOT/tax/insure/service/fuel a car, then there is no excuse to be fitting sub standard tyres.

1 hour ago, OccyVRS said:

As I said before, if I had my way, I'd ban part-worn tyres

1 hour ago, OccyVRS said:

There is no argument in which financial or environmental factors justify an increase to the risk of a fatality.

10 hours ago, J.R. said:

Try being a little less judgemental of others.

Seemingly not much chance of that.

My final words will be to answer one of your questions:

8 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

the front tyres from a brand new rear-ended car are fine - but how do you know they’re from that and not sat in someone’s shed for 15 years?

Because I checked the manufacturers date code which is stamped on every new tyre.

Its usually the driver that runs out of ability before the tyre does ,as the police tell you in bad conditions slow down.

Just now, Mickvrs220 said:

Its usually the driver that runs out of ability before the tyre does ,as the police tell you in bad conditions slow down.

If you'd read my post carefully, you might realise I'm speaking from such a position...

14 minutes ago, J.R. said:

No, just the people who choose to use them.

Seemingly not much chance of that.

My final words will be to answer one of your questions:

Because I checked the manufacturers date code which is stamped on every new tyre.

I'm very happy being judgemental, when I am in a position to do so. I'd love to know your vast knowledge of this topic, beyond your own limited experience, because of course you know significantly more than I do about it!

It's not as though I've any first hand experience, training or otherwise.

5 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

If you'd read my post carefully, you might realise I'm speaking from such a position...

I did read your post carefully ,theres alot of people on this site done alot of years driving and a few done some racing aswell so know what their talking about ,so you could try being less judgemental ,folk will buy the tyres they can afford ,just because it doesnt say michelin or goodyear dont make it a bad tyre ,as i said before alot of crap is talked about tyres on car forums,and if your out with the roads unit are you an advanced police driver by any chance.

Edited 2 April2 Apr by Mickvrs220

1 minute ago, Mickvrs220 said:

I did read your post carefully ,theres alot of people on this site done alot of years driving and a few done some racing aswell so know what their talking about ,so you could try being less judgemental ,folk will buy the tyres they can afford ,just because it doesnt say michelin or goodyear dont make it a bad tyre ,as i said before alot of crap is talked about tyres on car forums

I meant more in terms of being on the force - although I have also done a fair bit of racing.

I'm not beholden to a brand at all - nothing wrong with budget tyres (I run Rainsport 5s on another car and have for several years). My issue is with the 'gamble' of part-worn tyres, as OP commented on with those Michelins. I fear I'm repeating myself.

TLDR - speaking from my experience and position, I do not think part-worn tyres are worth the potential gamble, and therefore could not recommend them to anyone on a public form.

If you get a puncture do you get it repaired and put the part worn tyre back on or do you buy a new tyre.

Some buy new tyres. some have them repaired from the inside after inspection of the tyre, some gamble with a threaded emergency repair without removing the tyre and never get it looked at..

Everyone has their own view of what is safest.

1 minute ago, Stonekeeper said:

If you get a puncture do you get it repaired and put the part worn tyre back on or do you buy a new tyre.

Some buy new tyres. some have them repaired from the inside after inspection of the tyre, some gamble with a threaded emergency repair without removing the tyre and never get it looked at..

Everyone has their own view of what is safest.

Completely, but as I was attempting to say a few posts ago, I would hope that most people would consider what the police say is safest.

Interesting you mention about puncture repairs - as long as it is a decent quality permanent repair, then it is just as strong as the rest of the tyre. Certainly, this has nothing to do with remaining tread depth, internal soundness (within reason), or any of the issues you might find in a part-worn.

What about the third option to your question, buying a new part-worn tyre? The possibilities are endless, but I know what I would recommend to any member of the public!

On 31/03/2025 at 13:58, nta16 said:

@Stonekeeper IIRC, which is always hit 'n' miss, way, way back the Beemers abroad, possibly Germany, had it to change at 3 mm, possibly to feel more like the Porkies, remember when they used to de-badge the Beemer 1.6s and the telly program A-B was on (first I remember in widescreen, on 4:9, and the reps wanted an 'i' on the boot badge. I remember the 1 mm but not that it was so recent (to me) to change to "1.6 mm over . . .". A number of years back I had a ride in a 3-wheeler Grinnall Scorpion (1l Beemer bike engine) single wheel (wide for the time) at rear and, after the ride, I noticed how low the tread looked and mention this to the owner/driver to be informed for the vehicle 1 mm was allowed.

The 1mm minimum on the grinall is probably because it's a legally a bike not a car as tyres go. Still not a good idea though.

31 minutes ago, StevesTruck said:

The 1mm minimum on the grinall is probably because it's a legally a bike not a car as tyres go. Still not a good idea though.

In the dry, low tread is actually better!

It's in the wet that you have a problem...