Malaysian Motorists Warned Against Regrooved Car Tyres

A disapproving finger has been pointed at regrooved passenger car tyres in Malaysia. The country’s assistant infrastructure development minister, Pang Yuk Ming, has cited the use of regrooved tyres as a factor contributing to accidents in Malaysia. His comments were printed by Malaysia’s Daily Express newspaper.

“These tyres provide no friction whatsoever, and also have the tendency to burst and puncture any time,” Pang commented at the launch of a tyre safety awareness campaign organised by Malaysia’s Road Safety Department. “These tyres, or used tyres, may cost about half the price of a brand new tyre, but people should know by now that it is not worth risking your life just so that you can save that money.

Regrooved tyres, he explained, are worn tyres that are re-carved to create tyre threads, a dangerous practice as the tyres are already too thin and cannot support the weight of a car properly. “Retread tyres are safer because an additional layer of rubber is put unto the tyres before they are repacked to be sold, and these tyres follow the criteria set by Sirim (a Malaysian government owned safety and standards agency) before they are marketed,” he added.

Pang’s comments refer specifically to tyres, predominantly passenger car tyres, that are regrooved by ‘back street’ operations in Malaysia. The safety issues the assistant minister raised do not apply to the regrooving of truck tyres by reputable manufacturers, such as that carried out by some tyre majors in Western markets.