Experts have written to the Transport Secretary and Business and Trade Secretary calling for an immediate review of regulations around the sale of part-worn tyres.
It follows an investigation that uncovered serious safety concerns in the second-hand tyre market, with as many as eight million part-worn tyres sold to UK drivers each year.
Many of these are shipped in container loads from northern Europe after being recovered from worn-out or scrapped vehicles.
Current regulations require part-worn tyres to have no significant damage, be safely inflatable to the manufacturer's maximum pressure, and have at least 2mm of tread depth.
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Experts have called on the Government to introduce rules to crack down on dangerous used tyres
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They must also be clearly marked with "PART WORN" in capital letters at least 4mm high and display the correct "E" mark showing they meet European standards.
However, an investigation conducted by Auto Express in partnership with Tyresafe found that some tyres lacked the legally required markings.
Many had not been properly inspected and some showed signs of serious internal damage. Such defective tyres can lead to handling issues or dangerous blow-outs.
A recent TyreSafe investigation targeting suspect retailers found that 94 per cent of part-worn tyres inspected were being sold illegally, while over 60 per cent were deemed dangerous.
Experts encourage motorists to check that their tyres meet the legal depth on a regular basis PADespite these findings, enforcement of regulations is described as "practically non-existent". Chris Rosamund, Consumer Editor at Auto Express, said: "This is an issue that affects every single road user."
Auto Express is calling for urgent action on two fronts to address these safety concerns, including an officially backed accreditation scheme for retailers to improve standards.
This would include minimum qualifications for tyre fitters and quality checkers. Rosamund added: "This one change would offer consumers a guarantee of quality and service that's absent in the market today."
He added that accreditation would "help to encourage investment in a strong and stable part-worn retail sector".
It is also demanding "more vigorous and proactive intervention from the authorities", suggesting that the DVSA could support overstretched local Trading Standards departments.
This would include increased monitoring and "stiffer penalties for those who continue to put the lives of all road users at risk".
Rosamund continued, saying: "Cash-strapped drivers are still reeling from the cost-of-living crisis, and with the price of new tyres up 50 per cent in just five years, many drivers feel forced into cut-price, and potentially dangerous, alternatives.
"We're not against part-worn sales in principle, but the risks are real. Without proper market oversight and enforcement, buying part-worn tyres can be a dangerous gamble - unknown history, hidden damage, and the potential for failure."
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Auto Express believes that with proper regulation, the part-worn tyre market could become a valuable component of the UK's circular economy.
