Cash-strapped drivers are putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at serious risk of injury by opting for part worn tyres, according to campaign group TyreSafe.

The group has issued the stark warning following a month-long nationwide investigation where it purchased a random sample of 50 part worn tyres.

The tyres were inspected by an independent tyre expert and the alarming results found that 98 per cent of the tyres were being sold illegally.

But more concerning was that over a third of the tyres were found to contain potentially dangerous forms of damage or non-compliance.

Indeed, one tyre was described by the inspection engineer as having the “potential to kill” as it still contained a metal object penetrating 5cm through the tread in a manner which was likely to result in sudden and total tyre failure had it been fitted to a vehicle.

Other serious safety breaches included dangerous and unsafe repairs, exposed cords, bead damage and evidence of runflat damage.