illegal tyres Archives - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Curtailing Illicit Tyre Trade Will Help Improve Safety On Our Roads

vuyi on March 16, 2023

The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) is actively working to address the issue of illicit trade of tyres in South Africa, which are an enormous danger on our roads and contribute to the country’s high accident rate annually.

The SATMC is the representative body of the four leading global tyre manufacturers with manufacturing facilities established in the country, namely Bridgestone Southern Africa, Continental Tyre South Africa, Goodyear South Africa and Sumitomo Rubber South Africa.

Chairperson and CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, Lubin Ozoux, said illicit tyre trade is a growing concern and has far-reaching impacts on the industry, as well as the safety of drivers and passengers on the road.

“The production, import, export, purchase, sale or possession of tyres that fail to comply with the domestic legislation of South Africa must be taken seriously and stamped out. We as the SATMC, representing local tyre manufacturers, are particularly concerned about the entry of substandard and counterfeit tyres into the South African market. These tyres often do not meet the required safety standards, are made with inferior materials and are prone to failure, placing millions of lives at risk on our roads,” he said.

Illicit trade must be stopped, as this will create a safe and fair market for South Africa, helping to keep millions of lives safer on the roads
–Lubin Ozou, Chairperson and CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa

Tyres which are illegally brought into the country pose a serious threat to the safety of South African consumers. While this issue has been a persistent problem for several years, the recent increase could be attributed to the rise in illegal trade activities globally as globalisation and e-commerce continue to expand.

SATMC Managing Executive, Ndu Chala, said the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), in collaboration with the SATMC, has been working closely with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to root out illicit trade in the industry.

“This influx is concerning, and we have endeavoured to collaborate with the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), the Tyre Equipment Parts Association (TEPA) and the government through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to detect non-compliant behaviour, and ensure consequences for those found to have resorted to this illegal and criminal behaviour,” added Chala.

Ozoux said all role players in the tyre industry including manufacturers, importers, dealers and distributors are aligned and collaborating to tackle the scourge of illicit tyre trade. The SATMC has also introduced a number of solutions, including increased collaboration with law enforcement agencies to enforce regulations, and increased public awareness through targeted campaigns.

“Illicit trade must be stopped, as this will create a safe and fair market for South Africa, helping to keep millions of lives safer on the roads, and protecting local jobs. If reducing the unacceptably high number and cost of road deaths in South Africa is a priority for us all, then we simply cannot continue to allow illegal and often inferior tyres to keep proliferating the local market. Only legitimate and safe tyres should be available to South African consumers,” said Ozoux.

Car Tip of the Week: Dangers of Fitting Illegal Tyres

vuyi on November 29, 2021

While second-hand passenger car tyres can seem like a more cost-effective alternative to purchasing brand new tyres, these are unregulated and expose road users to a major hazard.

There is a dangerous and illegal practice called ‘re-grooving’ where unscrupulous operators buy worn, used tyres and carve out the rubber of the tyre to make the tread depth appear deeper than it actually is.

The cost of buying second-hand or part-worn tyres runs deeper than the cost of a new tyre. The potential loss of vehicle control, injury or loss of life are just a few of the devastating consequences of using unsafe tyres.

No matter how desperate you feel you are, NEVER compromise on your safety, that of your family and other road users. Rather save up and purchase tyres from reputable outlets.

The Know How About The Tread On Your Tyres

vuyi on June 25, 2020

The choice between an illegal, worn out tyre and a safe tyre could be a matter of life and death especially when you consider the various terrains and conditions we drive on.

This is especially relevant when we get flash rains that make the road surface slippery or drive over spillings. Although second hand, worn out tyres appear to be a more cost effective solution, they reduce the performance of a vehicle by increasing stopping distances, raising the risk of skidding and increasing the risk of blow outs.

At the launch of Transport Month in October 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “It pains me that our country continues to experience around 14,000 road deaths each year.”

“With over 60% of second hand tyres in South Africa deemed illegal, road users need to understand the dangers of driving using unsafe, worn out tyres. “Unsafe second hand tyres as well as worn out tyres are one of the major culprits that cause fatal consequences for road users, especially when one considers that the only component of the vehicle which, at any given point, makes contact with the surface of the road, is the tyre,” stated Darren Hayes-Powell, Group Managing Director at Goodyear South Africa.

Transport plays a critical role in sustaining our economy and commuting people to various destinations, therefore it is of utmost importance that we focus on the condition of tyres, the critical component that keeps the vehicle moving.

“It pains me that our country continues to experience around 14,000 road deaths each year.”
– President Cyril Ramaphosa

A simple tyre check at the end of each week will ensure you keep on top of the safety and wear performance of your tyres. As you park, move the steering wheel to the left or right to expose the front tyres when you exit the vehicle. This will give you easy access and view of your front tyres. It is also important you look at your rear tyres as they may also wear differently depending on how you drive.

These simple checks can ensure that you keep yourself, your passengers as well as the pedestrians around you safe as you drive.

Darren Hayes-Powell, concluded by saying, “Always make sure that your tyres are in good condition, that they are not worn out and if you are buying a second hand tyre, make sure that the tread wear indicator is visible, and it is below the tread across the whole tyre and there is no bulging on the side of the tyres. Adopt the habit of parking your car with the front tyres at an angle to make it easier to check their tread depth. This simple exercise, combined with a stringent quality check, can be the thin line between life and death.”