A prominent motoring safety group in the US has voiced concerns about the number of used tyres sold throughout the country each year and the unregulated nature of used tyre sales.

The group, Safety Research & Strategies, say that used tyres are often repaired, repainted or patched before sale, making it difficult for purchasers to get an accurate idea of their safety, and such tyres are the cause of countless accidents every year. “Without self-policing and a more transparent business model, used tyres sellers are courting disaster,” said Sean Kane, the organisation’s president. “Regulators should examine how to ensure consumers are getting safe tyres.”