Tyre 'seconds'/rejects - is it a thing?

[anonymous-user]

Lad at the local tyre place mentioned to the OH today that the Michelins on her motor were 'seconds'. Not something I'd ever thought about before, but I suppose most mass produced stuff throws up a steady supply of rejected specimens that don't get past QC. Given that these are fully emblazoned with the manufacturer's name and all the usual markings though, it doesn't seem great from a brand perspective.

So, are tyre 'seconds' a thing, or was he winding her up?!

[grumbas]

Sounds like BS to me...

I remember sitting on a tyre wall (I think at Le Mans) made of brand new looking tyres, each one with a chunk carefully cut out of bead to render it useless - seems a far more likely outcome for a tyre than doesn't meet the manufactures quality control.

[Nickjd]

I have run a tyre business for years. Just think of the implications from the manufacturer, through the reseller and the driver from tyres that knowing were put into service but were sub standard. Think of the Daily Mirror headline and the very long queue of Claim for Blame solicitors.
Things get said by "fitters" that are a very long way from reality.

[e-honda]

i suspect they were part warns, or maybe old stock
I don't think seconds is feasible, if they aren't conforming with the design then they aren't approved, they aren't legal. There might be some scope for some minor cosmetic issues still conforming, but really that is only going to be the details on the sidewall, and a lot of the text is legally required by one rule or another, so basically you leaves you with the possibility of the Brand logo being substandard.

[Smint]

Many years ago you could find tyres with something embossed on the side, was it 'regrade' or what?, i'm going back some 50 years now when i first worked in a tyre shop.
Anyone throw any light on what i'm remembering, badly it would appear, no i'm not talking about remoulds or recaps, these were rebranded or regraded tyres.

[anonymous-user]

Smint said:

Many years ago you could find tyres with something embossed on the side, was it 'regrade' or what?, i'm going back some 50 years now when i first worked in a tyre shop.
Anyone throw any light on what i'm remembering, badly it would appear, no i'm not talking about remoulds or recaps, these were rebranded or regraded tyres.

Not 'retread'? Bus and lorry tyres are often designed to be regrooved once the tread is worn down.

Gents you've confirmed my suspicions that the tyre boy was talking BS; I'm hoping he didn't mean fake knock-offs but I think that's probably equally unlikely! Cheers all

[OldGermanHeaps]

Maybe the date code on the tyre was much older than the car itself, or much older than the date of the last tyre change lending to the idea that they were part worns, or sat in a warehouse for an excessive amount of time before being fitted.
But occam's razor. Sometimes people with repetitive brain switched off jobs ramble nonsense to make the day go quicker.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Friday 16th July 00:05

[anonymous-user]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Maybe the date code on the tyre was much older than the car itself, or much older than the date of the last tyre change lending to the idea that they were part worns, or sat in a warehouse for an excessive amount of time before being fitted

Christ knows. It's a weird one; newly ex-lease 17 plate CRV she bought a few weeks back, it's wearing three Michelin Latitude Cross semi-off roaders (it's a 1.6 diesel 2WD ) all pretty much new, and then one Goodyear road tyre. Which is playing hell with the pressure sensors and will shortly be replaced with a fourth Michelin to (hopefully) sort it out!

[Lester H]

As I understand it, when a new tread pattern is imminent, some tyre makers ‘rebrand’ existing stocks in this way. The tyres are identical to perfect ones. Presumably, now that there is some knowledge about the dangers of old stock, they will be keen to move them on. Also if they are premium brands, it may annoy customers who have just spent lots on 4 tyres if they are suddenly reduce prices - hence the re- labelling.

[Lester H]

Smint said:

Many years ago you could find tyres with something embossed on the side, was it 'regrade' or what?, i'm going back some 50 years now when i first worked in a tyre shop.
Anyone throw any light on what i'm remembering, badly it would appear, no i'm not talking about remoulds or recaps, these were rebranded or regraded tyres.

I can’t go back so far, but ‘remould quality’ sounds familiar ( meaning ‘we need to shift these perfectly good tyres’.

[Sheepshanks]

Southerner said:

So, are tyre 'seconds' a thing, or was he winding her up?!

Just talking nonsense. For a laugh, if the new tyres have them, try asking them what the coloured rings or the red and yellow dots mean. Even the "Michelin trained" guy at Costco had absolutely no idea.

[Smint]

Lester H said:

I can’t go back so far, but ‘remould quality’ sounds familiar ( meaning ‘we need to shift these perfectly good tyres’.

Well remembered thats the term i couldn't think of, known in the trade as RQ's, yes new tyres rebranded as remould quality, probably as you say to shift ageing stocks, there wasn't the hysteria about tyre ageing there is now.

[craigjm]

Sheepshanks said:

Southerner said:

So, are tyre 'seconds' a thing, or was he winding her up?!

Just talking nonsense. For a laugh, if the new tyres have them, try asking them what the coloured rings or the red and yellow dots mean. Even the "Michelin trained" guy at Costco had absolutely no idea.

Surely anyone who fits tyres would know seeing as they are part of the fitting instructions

[66mpg]

It always annoys me when I see tyres just thrown on the rims any old how with the red or yellow dots nowhere near where they should be, and a load more balance weights used than would otherwise be necessary. If I know what they’re for, how come “the professionals” don’t?

[spaximus]

Yes RQ was the term. These were often used if for example a tyre came of of the mould and the lettering was not sharp enough to sell as "perfect"

They were perfectly safe and were only a few pounds cheaper than perfect but the sold well, when you got them which was no often

[anonymous-user]

Wasn’t a kwik fit by any chance ?

Years ago i was told i needed a tire replaced and when i said their Michelin tire price was dearer than Costco, they said they were seconds! Lol. Fannys.

[The Wazak]

Sometimes being an "old f@rt" is helpful! (I'm long retired from the motor trade)
"Seconds" were commonplace back in the 60's. They were indeed called "RQ's" (Remould Quality) in the trade.
As suggested earlier is this article, they were functionally perfect tyres - but with largely cosmetic imperfections. I say "largely" because one major characteristic that could render a new tyre a "reject" is its balance - which is not cosmetic. Having said that, no new tyre is perfectly balanced off the shelf - even is only by an unnoticeable amount. Most require a balancing weight (or two). A tyre which exceeded the manufacturers tolerance would be marked "RQ" (A non-removable heat stamp on the sidewall). However, I have never been unable to balance an RQ - even if this meant large weights on occasion.
I have fitted hundreds of RQ tyres and am unaware of any complaints/tyre failure etc.
Shame they seem to have disappeared as they were typically 2/3 of the new price - or less.
What worries me, is what happens to rejects now? But maybe new processes create less rejects. I hope that is the case and that manufacturers have not lowered standards.
PS. Don't forget that even new tyres can blow-out or otherwise fail!

Edited by The Wazak on Wednesday 17th August 13:02