Buying your first set of car tyres can be daunting. Navigating the world of tyre brands, sizes, and prices often leaves novice buyers feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable to exploitation. This lack of knowledge frequently leads unsuspecting individuals to purchase tyres from dubious sources, unknowingly acquiring substandard or even dangerous products. Many counterfeit tyres are actually used tyres, cleverly disguised as new, posing a significant safety risk. This post equips you with practical tips to help you identify these fake tyres and ensure you're investing in safe, reliable rubber for your vehicle.

Checks to make before buying new tyres:

Identifying fake tyres can be tricky, as counterfeiters are getting increasingly sophisticated. There's no single foolproof method, but combining several checks significantly increases your chances of spotting a fake. Here's a breakdown of what to look for:

Visual Inspection:

• Tire Sidewall: Inconsistent lettering and numbers: Look for blurred, uneven, or poorly printed characters. Genuine tyres have crisp, clear markings.

• Misspellings and grammatical errors: This is a common giveaway for tyres made outside of a brand factory.

• Uneven tread pattern: The tread should be symmetrical and consistent across the tyre.

• Unusual markings or symbols: Be wary of any markings not typically found on genuine tyres of that brand and model. To understand tyre markings better, read our blog about tyre markings on the sidewall.

• Colour inconsistencies: The sidewall colour should be uniform. If the colour of the tyre is inconsistent, e.g., appears faded in places, it is most likely a refurb.

• Low-quality materials: The rubber might look dull, cracked, or feel unusually soft or hard.

• DOT number (Department of Transportation): This number is crucial. It should be clearly visible and easily readable. Check if it's consistent with the manufacturer's markings. You can verify this number online using various tyre verification websites and services, although some fakes might have valid-looking DOT numbers. 

• Uneven tread depth: The tread depth should be consistent across the tyre.

• Poorly formed tread blocks: Look for inconsistencies in the shape and size of the tread blocks.

Also read :- How Do Red Dots and Yellow Dots on Tyres Differ

Other Checks:

• Price: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Substantially lower prices than reputable retailers often indicate counterfeit tyres.

• Retailer Reputation: Buy from established tyre retailers with a good reputation. Avoid unknown or unreliable sellers, especially dubious looking online marketplaces.

• Packaging: Genuine tyres typically come in branded packaging. Counterfeit tyres might have poor-quality or generic packaging, or no packaging at all.

• Tire Serial Number: Some manufacturers use unique serial numbers to track tyres. If possible, verify the serial number.

Why you should not fall for cheap tyre pricing?

The seemingly attractive savings from cheaper, potentially fake tyres are massively outweighed by the significant risks involved. Purchasing counterfeit tyres puts you at serious risk of:

• Safety Hazards: Fake tyres are often made with inferior materials and manufacturing processes. This can lead to premature tyre failure, blowouts, loss of control, and potentially fatal accidents. The risk of a catastrophic tyre failure far surpasses any money saved.

• Voiding Warranties: Using counterfeit tyres will likely void any warranty on your vehicle, leaving you with hefty repair bills should problems arise.

• Poor Performance: Fake tyres offer inferior grip, handling, and braking performance compared to genuine tyres. This compromises your safety and driving experience, particularly in challenging weather conditions.

• Legal Issues: In some jurisdictions, using counterfeit tyres is illegal and can result in fines or other penalties.

• Unpredictable Wear: Fake tyres may wear out much faster than genuine tyres, requiring more frequent and costly replacements, negating any initial cost savings.

In short, the peace of mind and safety provided by genuine tyres far outweigh any perceived savings offered by cheaper, potentially fake alternatives. The cost of an accident, a damaged vehicle, or even injury far exceeds the small price difference.

Buy from authorised tyre shops

No single test guarantees authenticity. Even with careful inspection, some fakes can be difficult to detect. So, our advice is that you focus on multiple clues. The more inconsistencies you find, the higher the probability that the tyre is counterfeit.

If in doubt, don't buy it. The risk of a fake tyre failing and causing an accident is far greater than the potential savings. To avoid the pitfalls of counterfeit tyres and ensure you're getting genuine quality, it's always best to buy from authorised tyre dealers.

Apollo Tyres, for example, meticulously selects its dealerships, ensuring they stock original tyres at the manufacturer's recommended prices. This careful selection process helps us maintain consistent quality and protects our consumers from potentially dangerous fakes. Furthermore, to completely alleviate any concerns about accidentally purchasing counterfeit tyres, you can visit the Apollo Tyres website and place your order directly through our online tyre shop. This online shop operates on a convenient "buy online, fit offline" model, directing you to a verified Apollo Tyres dealer near your location for fitting, guaranteeing you receive authentic Apollo tyres and professional installation.