In particular, in this year of booming imports of second-hand vehicles from the UK, Continental is advising prospective UK vehicle purchasers to pay more attention to the vehicle’s tyres. The warning comes as a survey carried out by the tyre manufacturer of some 100 UK-registered vehicles on car dealer forecourts in Dublin showed that more than 75 percent of them were fitted with budget tyres, in particular, cheap Chinese brands.
According to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland: “Lower cost is what is driving the growing number of second-hand imports into Ireland and it is clear that, in an effort to keep the price as low as possible, the majority of car dealers are opting to fit the cheapest tyres on these vehicles”.
“Independent tests by safety authorities in several countries have shown that so called budget tyres do not have anything like the same performance and safety benefits as premium tyres. This is particularly true when it comes to stopping in the wet , a key requirement when driving in Ireland. Those independent tests have shown that a car fitted with budget tyres performing an emergency stop in the wet can take an extra 15 metres or four car lengths to stop than a car fitted with a premium tyre brand. That 15 metres could be the difference between avoiding a collision or not.”
Tyres are a vehicle’s only contact with the road and RSA studies have consistently shown what an important influence they can have on the roadworthiness and the safety of a vehicle.
“So even though it might seem the price is right with that second-hand UK vehicle, you may be paying a much higher price in the long run,” concluded Dennigan.
Source - Continental-Tyres.ie