Deco warns that buying used tyres is more expensive, certainly more dangerous and ends up costing the driver more in the long run.
The consumer protection association analysed 89 used tyres and concluded that most had serious flaws.
The purchase of used tyres is not at all recommended by Deco and in a statement released today, the association said the results of its tyre test showed 50 of the 89 were unsafe to use.
Deco will now ask the dreaded ASAE, the country’s health and safety authority, to look at the problem that is rendering thousands of Portugal less well off car owners in danger of their lives.
Of the 89 tires tested, 17 were over ten years old and one venerable set was 19-years-old. Poorly repaired punctures, bulges and tyres with the wire showing through were spotted by Deco’s team.
The association also found that in the long term it costs more to run on re-treads and second hand tyres as they need replacing more often despite an up front saving of around €130 for a set.
Assuming a tyre is in good shape, for the purchase to make financial sense there must be at least 4.5 mm of tread left - new tyres have around 8 mm. Of the eighty-nine purchased from a variety of stores, only eleven would have made financial sense for consumers.
Deco says "these results show that the purchase of used tyres is a risk, given the lack of regulation."
The consumers’ champion has reported its results to ASAE and demands that regulations are created for the second hand tyre business with the re-seller responsible for the safety of his products.
"Minimum security standards should be established for tyre dealers for all products that they sell," demands Deco.
