VIDEO: You May Want To Watch Out For This 'Used Tyre' Scam

Tyre quality is arguably the single most important factor that determines your car’s on-road safety, and the phrase “where the rubber meets the road” isn’t just a mildly funny jumble of words. Without grip you're not driving the car, you're just along for the ride. A puncture is always a drag, literally, and a blow out? – Good luck. 

As drivers, we’ve been conditioned to pay attention to our tyres, lest we want to subject ourselves to another sour experience borne out of neglect. Granted, despite the best of intentions, even the most particular of us fall victim to a few unforseen tyre mishaps.

But this video is just appalling on so many levels. People actually shaving and peeling areas of an already worn down tyre to reveal the few millimeters of fresh rubber that remain underneath, then cutting new grooves along the side, all to create the illusion of newness to the eye of an untrained potential buyer. It’s unthinkable. The parties involved here have clearly elected to trash their moral compass in exchange for some petty profit, gambling with the human lives which will very likely be jeopardized when these tyres finally give way, every time they sell a fraudulently healthy one. Make no mistake, this is a matter of when, not if.

To be clear, this video isn't of a Malaysian incident. In fact, according to the video notes, the footage allegedly originates from somewhere in Europe. However, it’s not inconceivable that such a thing could be replicated elsewhere. Also, it’s quite plain the tyres that have undergone this process are sold as used tires, as the ones sold as brand new have certain characteristics that are much harder to mimic.

With that said, we hope this helps to educate the public about the unscrupulous practices that are occurring elsewhere, and to remain vigilant about tyre health – prior to purchase and during use.

It’s always a good idea to bring your car to an authorized tyre center, workshop or dealer to have them checked and/or worked on by a professional if you yourself don't feel confident in telling the good from the bad. If new ones are needed, have them present a few recommendations and actively participate in the process so that the right tyre is chosen for your needs and that of your car.