Arguments against the use of second-hand tyres

May 01, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
After watching many protests and the various comments over the banning of used tyres, I somehow concluded that many of these dealers either don’t have a clue about the dangers of the tyres they offer for sale or are only concerned with profit at all cost.
There is abundant evidence that the older a tyre gets the more likely it will fail. Older tyres are substantially more likely to fail than newer ones. This is because tyres are made mostly of rubber, and rubber degrades with age. Sunlight, heat, rain, and general wear and tear can accelerate the breakdown of a tyre.
Once a tire begins to break down, it becomes more likely to fail; this is usually in the form of tread separation. It is often at highway speeds, when this failure is most likely to cause catastrophic injuries or death.
Tyres age dangerously because of a chemical process commonly referred to as oxidation, which simply means that as the tyre components are exposed to oxygen, the oxygen particles cause the flexible components of a tyre to harden and become brittle.
Over time, the tyre will simply fall apart under normal stress, just like an old rubber band. Because this process occurs naturally, it does not matter if a tyre is being used, stored as a spare, or simply waiting on a store shelf for an unsuspecting consumer.
For most tyres, this expiration date should be six years from the date of manufacture (well accepted by countries such as the USA, CANADA and the UK). For the benefit of those who don’t know, the date of manufacture is branded on one side of the tyre. It is a requirement of the US Department of Transportation (DOT). Check on one side of the tyre for the mark (DOT).There will be several digits and letters following. For example, DOT (P143 35HV) 1612. The 4 digits at the end tells you the week the tyre was made followed by the year.
Editor, a check at some of our local use tyre dealers told a horrible story. Old tyres between 8 to 12 years are being offered for sale.
Most consumers usually buy tyres based on its appearance. Had we had proper regulations long before now, these dangerous traps would never have reached our shores.
There are also many cases of old tyres being sold as new ones despite them being well into the expired date (6yrs). I hope the Bureau of Standards steps up its inspection to ensure consumers get proper and safe tyres for a safer road.
C. Woolford

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