In a major crackdown, Muscat Municipality officials confiscated a large quantity of used tyres stored in different warehouses and shops for sale in the city. “The inspection team of the municipality, as part of its ongoing endeavour to ensure the safety of citizens and residents, conducted raids at various storage facilities belonging to some companies at Misfah in the Wilayat of Bausher and seized recycled tyres that were intended to be sold to customers,” said a statement from the civic body. According to the statement, the companies did not have proper licence even to store the tyres.
Sale of used tyres is not allowed in the Sultanate following regulations enacted by the Public Authority for Consumer Protection in coordination with the Royal Oman Police to limit road accidents.
“Used tyres are potential death traps on roads. The regulations gazetted by the authorities in 2015 spell out strict penalties on violators,” said an official at the ROP.
The regulations ban the sale of new light vehicle tyres if they remain unsold in the shelves for 24 months from the date of manufacture.
The law has set the validity for tyres of heavy vehicles at 30 months.
While the regulations require suppliers to provide information on the country of production and the type of tyre, there should also be details on the optimum and maximum speed they can withstand apart from their temperature level.
A trader at a tyre shop in Wadi Kabir said some customers prefer used tyres because they get them for a bargain.
“People want a cheap price regardless of the quality. This is despite knowing that these tyres are removed from cars of customers who buy new treads,” he said.
The ROP official said old tyres can blow out, cause accident, injury or death at high speeds.
“Old tyres, whether still on a vehicle or just bought from a shop, might explode at highway speeds. Faults in a tyre need not be visible. This might take place inside the tyre,” he warned.
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