英国一项针对近500辆二手车的调查发现，16%的车辆正在出售时配备有“潜在危险”轮胎。
一项针对二手车销售的最新调查显示，英国市场上约六分之一（16%）的待售车辆配备的轮胎存在'潜在危险'，可能无法支撑到下一次年检。研究还发现，约8%的车辆所售轮胎在年检时会因状况不佳收到'警告'，许多轮胎的花纹深度甚至处于或低于1.6毫米的法定极限——令人震惊的是，这类情况连经销商也存在。
这项由哈尔福德公司委托、与卡迪夫大学汽车研究中心主任彼得·韦尔斯教授合作开展的研究，对英国100多个地点近500辆待售汽车进行了细致检查。在轮胎安全月期间公布的结果显示，约六分之一（16%）的车辆出售时轮胎花纹深度仅为3.6毫米或更少。
韦尔斯教授认为这一数值具有'潜在危险性'，因为汽车轮胎的花纹深度通常每年会磨损2毫米——而多数车辆下次接受年检并检查轮胎时才会被发现。轮胎性能在此阶段也开始下降。新轮胎的花纹深度通常为8毫米。
调查发现许多车辆的状况更为糟糕。约每12辆车中就有1辆（占比8%）的轮胎花纹深度仅有3毫米或更少——若以出售时的状态接受英国车辆年检（MOT），这一数值将导致车辆收到'警告'提示。
这也是性能明显恶化的临界点——在湿滑路况下性能下降约20%——因此强烈建议更换轮胎。在研究的481辆车辆中，发现有4辆的轮胎花纹深度仅为1.6毫米或更低。其中3辆车的年检（MOT）有效期还剩10个多月，这意味着届时这些轮胎很可能已不符合法定标准。
尽管从技术层面看仍符合法律标准，但胎纹仅剩1.6毫米的轮胎性能已大幅下降——在湿滑路面上，这类轮胎需要171米才能刹停时速70英里的车辆，而新轮胎仅需94米。这意味着车辆可能面临两种截然不同的结局：安全停下或以46英里的时速发生碰撞。
一辆标价58,000英镑的待售车辆来自某经销商，其轮胎磨损明显，胎纹仅剩1.55毫米，并附有十个月的有效年检。另一案例中，某知名品牌经销商正以15,000英镑的价格出售一辆年检有效期12个月的汽车，但轮胎胎纹厚度仅为1.6毫米。
两款车型均提供试驾服务。目前，二手车合法销售需满足两项条件：通过12个月的车检（MOT）且轮胎花纹深度仅剩1.6毫米——这是法定最低限值。但需注意的是，只要轮胎再磨损0.01毫米，车辆便会失去合法上路资格。
这种情况可能在大约行驶33英里后出现，这意味着新车主将车开回家时，车辆可能已经不符合法律规定。哈福德公司的数据显示，过去一年中有超过6000辆送修的车辆被发现轮胎花纹深度不足1.6毫米，属于非法行驶状态。另有16500辆车的轮胎花纹深度介于1.6毫米至2毫米之间。
哈尔福德汽车维修公司董事总经理亚当·佩（Adam Pay）对现行车辆销售轮胎胎面深度法规提出批评："现行售车胎面深度规定并未将驾驶者安全置于首位。多数车主在年检间隔期间不会检查轮胎，认为所购车辆在下一次年检前都是安全的。一辆通过12个月年检的车辆，可能在行驶几英里或几天后就变得不合法——这种情况在法律上竟被允许，往轻说是缺乏常识，往重说可能危及生命。相关法规亟需重新审视。"
韦尔斯教授与哈尔福德公司合作开展了研究方法设计和数据分析工作，他将研究结果描述为"极其令人担忧"，并称这是"随时可能发生的事故"。据他估计，每年约有120万辆汽车出售时配备存在潜在危险的轮胎，而超过7.5万辆汽车可能安装了不合法的轮胎。
他警告称："轮胎是车辆安全最关键的部分之一，甚至可以说是最重要的部分。一旦轮胎花纹深度接近3毫米，其制动性能和抓地力就会开始明显下降，并且情况只会越来越糟。"
在湿滑路面上以70英里/小时的速度行驶时，新轮胎与胎纹深度仅剩1.6毫米的旧轮胎之间的制动距离相差75米——这相当于能否及时刹停，或是以46英里/小时的速度撞车的区别。人们质疑1.6毫米的胎纹深度是否还应被认定为符合道路安全标准。
韦尔斯教授支持佩先生提高限制标准的呼吁，并表示："我认为将法定限制设定为3.6毫米，甚至4毫米，是合理的。"
近期一项针对驾驶者的消费者调查显示，大多数英国人达成共识。超过八成（81%）的受访者认为，英国销售的所有二手车都应具备足够的轮胎花纹深度以维持到下次年检，这应当成为一项法律要求。
研究还显示，过去一年购买二手车的消费者中，超半数（53%）曾更换过轮胎。当被问及若购买胎纹深度不足3毫米的二手车会有何感受时，40%的受访者表示会感到“失望”，35%的人则认为这让他们“身处险境”。
英国慈善机构轮胎安全组织（TyreSafe）致力于提升轮胎安全意识，并每年十月举办轮胎安全月活动。该组织对此次研究结果表示欢迎，认为这将有助于提高公众对该问题的关注。
轮胎安全协会主席斯图尔特·洛瓦特表示："这是我们见过的针对英国市场待售车辆轮胎状况最详尽的研究，结果表明大量汽车正以不合格轮胎进行交易。我们的目标是减少英国道路上的轮胎相关事故，这项研究警示消费者购车时需格外谨慎，并强调了个人主动检查轮胎安全的重要性。"
哈尔福德（Halfords）公司正在全国范围内提供免费轮胎检测服务，旨在帮助近期购买二手车的车主确认轮胎状况是否达标。该服务包含面向哈尔福德汽车俱乐部会员的免费十项检测、常规免费轮胎检测，以及多种可供车主自行检测轮胎花纹深度的测量工具。更多轮胎安全信息可访问官网查询：halfords.com/tyre-safety.html
Motorvise公司开展了轮胎花纹深度检测，检查了全英100多家经销商待售的481辆汽车的轮胎。此次抽查还包括部分私人出售的车辆。
本次调查的方法论与数据分析工作由彼得·韦尔斯教授监督完成。针对驾驶员的相关研究由OnePoll机构于2025年9月30日至10月2日期间开展，调查对象为2000名英国机动车驾驶人。
英国交通部发言人表示："销售不符合标准的危险车辆属于违法行为，若发现私人卖家欺诈性出售轮胎存在安全隐患的汽车，必须追究其责任。我们高度重视道路安全，敦促所有驾驶员在上路前确保车辆安全合规。"
英国交通部补充称，英国驾驶员和车辆标准局（DVSA）的市场监督团队与当地贸易标准团队密切合作，对销售部分磨损轮胎的车库进行检查，违法者将面临起诉。DVSA市场监督部门通过实物测试和文件检查，确保在英国销售的车辆及零部件符合法定要求。
根据1987年《消费者保护法》，任何销售不符合要求的翻新轮胎的零售商均属违法，可能面临巨额罚款或监禁；而在销售过程中虚报车辆状况（包括轮胎安全性）的行为则构成欺诈。
声明同时指出，轮胎是关乎行车安全的关键部件，并作为车辆年检（MOT测试）的必检项目，确保其胎面花纹深度达标且无割痕或鼓包。任何轮胎存在缺陷的车辆均无法通过年检，且禁止上路行驶。
英国交通部（DfT）表示，车主有责任始终确保车辆符合道路行驶标准，而不仅限于年检期间。该部门同时建议驾驶员定期检查轮胎花纹深度，并在胎纹厚度接近法定最低值1.6毫米前及时更换轮胎。
An investigation of nearly 500 secondhand cars for sale in the UK found 16% are being sold with 'potentially dangerous' tyres
A new probe into secondhand car sales has revealed that around one in six motors (16%) on sale in the UK are equipped with 'potentially dangerous' tyres that may not survive until their next MOT. The study also discovered that around 8% of vehicles are being flogged with tyres that would earn a 'warning' for their condition during an MOT, and many are being sold at or below the legal tread limit of 1.6mm - shockingly, even from dealerships.
The research, commissioned by Halfords and conducted in partnership with Professor Peter Wells, director of the Centre for Automotive Research at Cardiff University, scrutinised nearly 500 cars up for sale in over 100 locations across the UK. The findings, unveiled during Tyre Safety Month, showed that about one in six vehicles (16%) were being sold with a mere 3.6mm of tyre tread or less.
This amount was deemed 'potentially dangerous' by Professor Wells, as cars typically burn through 2mm of tread over the course of a year - the next time many will receive an MOT and have their tyres inspected. Tyre performance also starts to go downhill at this stage. New tyres usually come with 8mm of tread.
Many vehicles were found to be in an even worse state. About one in 12 (8%) had a paltry 3mm of tread or less - the level which would result in cars receiving a 'warning' at an MOT if tested in the condition they were being sold.
This is also the point where performance noticeably worsens - by approximately 20% in wet conditions - meaning they are strongly advised to be replaced. Out of the 481 vehicles studied, four were found to have tyres with a tread of 1.6mm or less. Three of these had over 10 months remaining on their MOT, indicating they would likely be illegal by that time.
Although technically within the law, tyres with a tread of 1.6mm are significantly compromised - it would take them 171 metres to stop a vehicle travelling at 70mph in wet conditions, compared to just 94 metres for a vehicle with new tyres. This could be the difference between stopping safely and crashing at 46mph.
One car, valued at 058,000, was available for sale from a dealership with visibly worn tyres with a tread of 1.55mm and a ten-month MOT. In another instance, a major brand dealership was offering a 0515,000 car with a 12-month MOT and tyres with just 1.6mm of tread.
Both cars were available for test drives. At present, secondhand cars can legally be sold with a 12-month MOT and a tyre tread of just 1.6mm - the minimum legal limit. However, just 0.01mm of additional wear would make them illegal.
This could occur after approximately 33 miles, meaning the vehicle could be illegal by the time the new owner drives it home. Data from Halfords reveals that in the past year, more than 6,000 vehicles brought in for servicing were found to have less than 1.6mm of tread, making them illegal. An additional 16,500 had between 1.6mm and 2mm of tread.
Adam Pay, the managing director of Halfords Garages, has criticised current regulations regarding tyre tread depth on cars sold: " The current rules for tread depth on cars sold do not put motorists' safety first. Most motorists do not check tyres between MOTs and expect a car they have bought will be safe until its next MOT. The fact it is legal to sell a car with a 12-month MOT that, in a matter of miles or days will be illegal, at best lacks common sense and at worse could cost lives. The law needs an urgent rethink."
Professor Wells, who collaborated with Halfords on the research methodology and data analysis, described the findings as "extremely worrying" and "an accident waiting to happen". He estimated that around 1.2 million cars are being sold each year with potentially dangerous tyres, while over 75,000 are likely sold with illegal ones.
He warned: "Tyres are one of, if not the most safety-critical aspect of a vehicle. Once they approach 3mm, their braking and roadholding ability has already begun deteriorating noticeably and it only gets worse from there.
"The difference in stopping distance between new tyres and ones with 1.6mm of tread is 75 metres if travelling at 70mph in wet conditions. That's the difference between stopping in time, or crashing at 46mph. There is a question of whether 1.6mm should be road-legal at all."
Backing Mr Pay's call for higher limits, Professor Wells said: "I would propose that imposing a legal limit of 3.6mm, or even 4mm, would be sensible."
A recent consumer survey among drivers revealed that the majority of Brits were in agreement. More than eight out of 10 (81%) reckon it should be a legal requirement for all secondhand cars sold in the UK to have sufficient tyre tread to last until their next MOT.
The study also revealed that more than half (53%) of those who bought a used car in the past year had to replace a tyre on the vehicle. When asked how they would feel if they purchased a secondhand vehicle with less than 3mm of tread, 40% said they would feel 'let down' and 35% felt as though they were being 'put in danger'.
TyreSafe - the UK's charity dedicated to promoting tyre safety, which also organises Tyre Safety month every October - has welcomed the research findings to raise awareness of the issue.
Stuart Lovatt, chairperson of TyreSafe, said: "This is the most detailed study we have seen into the state of tyres on vehicles being offered for sale in the UK and suggests that huge numbers are being sold with sub-standard tyres. Our aim is to reduce tyre-related incidents on Britain's roads and this research highlights how careful consumers have to be when buying a car and the importance of taking personal responsibility for checking your tyres are safe."
Halfords is offering free tyre checks across the country to assist drivers who have recently bought a second-hand car and want to ensure their tyres are up to scratch. This includes the 10-Point Check, which is free for Halfords Motoring Club members, as well as the Free Tyre Check and a variety of tyre tread gauges that drivers can use to check their own tyres. More information about tyre safety can be found at halfords.com/tyre-safety.html
Motorvise conducted the tread depth testing, inspecting the tyres of 481 vehicles for sale at more than 100 dealerships throughout the UK. Several cars being sold privately were also included in the checks.
The methodology and data analysis of the survey was overseen by Professor Peter Wells. The research relating to drivers was carried out by OnePoll between September 30 and October 2, 2025, among 2,000 UK motorists.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: Selling dangerous vehicles that are not up to standards is illegal and private sellers found fraudulently selling cars with unsafe tyres should be held accountable. We take road safety seriously and urge all drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe and legal before taking them on the roads.
The DfT added that the DVSAs market surveillance team worked closely with local Trading Standards teams to carry out checks on garages selling part-worn tyres, who can face prosecution if they break the law. The DVSAs Market Surveillance Unit ensures vehicles and components sold in the UK comply with their legislative requirements by conducting physical testing and documentation inspections.
Any retailer selling part-worn tyres which fail to meet these requirements is breaking the law under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and could be subject to a substantial fine or prison sentence and misrepresenting the condition of a vehicle during sale, including tyre safety, is considered fraudulent.
It also said that tyres were safety-critical components and were checked as part of the MOT test, ensuring tyres have adequate tread depth and are free from cuts or bulges. Any vehicle with defective tyres will fail an MOT test and is not permitted to be driven on the road.
The DfT said that vehicle owners were responsible for always maintaining their vehicles in a roadworthy condition, not just for the time of an MOT test. It also recommends that drivers regularly monitor tyre tread depth and replace tyres well before they reach the legal minimum of 1.6mm.