Old tyres are death-traps
Second-hand tyres and re-grooved tyres are among the biggest dangers to safety on the road.
OFTEN a more cost-effective alternative to purchasing brand new tyres, second-hand or ‘part-worn’ tyres may present a more viable option for cash-strapped motor owners.
However, what one may regard as a financial advantage, could cost them on the road, says Riaz Haffejee, CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa – one of the leading tyre manufacturers and parent company of Dunlop tyres in South Africa.
The contribution of poor tyre conditions to road accident statistics is alarming.
In a report released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation for the period January – December 2015, it was revealed that vehicle factors contributed to 7.8 percent of all road fatalities, of which 78 percent was due to tyre-related issues such as smooth tyres and burst tyres.
“The use of second-hand tyres is a massive cause for concern and is a malady plaguing South Africa’s informal sector at present,” said Mr Haffejee. “Consumers may make potentially life-threatening purchase decisions when buying second-hand tyres, as tread depth can be dangerously low, resulting in aquaplaning on wet roads. In addition, the buyer has no knowledge of the tyre’s age or repair history, which can be equally dangerous.”
The illegal – and highly dangerous – practice of ‘re-grooving’ tyres to create greater tread depth is one of the most common traits in second-hand tyres and presents a considerable hazard to tyre condition.
Often more prevalent in the informal sector, re-grooving constitutes the re-creation of tread depth, often done by means of a sharp object, such as a knife or screwdriver, that has been heated to melt away the rubber.
Tyre aging is another less-known factor that second-hand tyre consumers do not consider. After a period of time, the strength of a tyre is compromised and becomes brittle due to environmental exposure such sunlight, ozone factors and oxygen. Such tyres are more likely to suffer from weak spots which often lead to burst tyres.
Repaired tyres are also another characteristic in the second-hand tyre market, which results in weaker tyres.
In many cases, adhesives like super glue are used to repair rips and tears in tyres and they are sold to unsuspecting consumers – which is highly dangerous for all road users.
The acknowledgement of part-worn tyres by government highlights that this is being recognised as a serious agenda affecting road safety.
(Information from Sumitomo Rubber South Africa)
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