USED tyre dealer Michael Powell has come out against what he calls misinformation about circumstances surrounding the importation of used tyres into the island.

According to Powell, who told Auto he was president of the newly formed Used Tyre Dealers Association, his members were interested in protecting consumers and imported only good quality used tyres. Powell said that his association had 39 members and all were “committed to providing good service in the interest of their respective businesses and the consumer.”

“We are not bringing junk into Jamaica,” he declared this week.

Powell was responding to recent comments that the importation of used tyres should cease as they posed a threat to road safety and the environment.

However, he argued that the purchase of a new tyre did not ensure safety on the roads, as was being put forward.

He said that many purchasers of new tyres were unable to replace them in a timely manner, instead, keeping them on a vehicle until the “cord and wires are exposed because they cannot afford a new set.”

Powell also contended that there was no empirical evidence to show that motor vehicle crashes were caused by used tyres purchased from legitimate dealers.

“The tyres coming in are not dumped, they are standard and in proper condition,” he said.

“The tyres are coming off vehicles that are being recycled. A car will come into Jamaica as a used car with the same tyre, and people buy the car and use it for years,” he emphasised.

The used tyre dealer nonetheless said he was in agreement with the Bureau of Standards placing guidelines on the importation of tyres.

“I can show you tyres rejected by the Bureau,” said Powell.

However, an obviously peeved Powell said that the standards being put forward by new-tyre dealers was only a ploy to keep used tyre dealers out of the local market because they were losing business.

“They want to manipulate the market and keep us out,” said Powell.

He told Auto that a committee formed to come up with standards for the importation of used tyres was “getting nowhere” as they could not arrive at a decision.

According to Powell, the thread depth of a new tyre is 8mm and the used tyre dealers were suggesting importation of tyres at minimum 4mm.

“They [new tyre dealers] have come up with 6mm and no older than 40 months,” said Powell.

“The standards being proposed are higher than anywhere else in the world,” he remarked.

He also charged that some brands of new tyres were of a lower quality than top quality used tyres and were not able to survive Jamaican road conditions.

Powell argued that consumers would buy a used tyre only if the quality was good. “People gravitate to name-brand tyres,” he commented. “This is not about the public, it is a business contention,” Powell remarked.

In addition the tyre dealer told Auto that there was an export market for rejected used tyres and there should be no need to damage the environment.

“We can dispose of them,” he said. “They will take them in container loads.”