Vehicle repair workshops will be banned from selling used tyres in Bahrain’s Southern Governorate, due to concerns that they could be torched by rioters or contribute to road accidents.

The Southern Municipal Council yesterday (June 24) agreed to impose the ban based on a report by chairman Ahmed Al Ansari, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Essam Khalaf can choose to enforce the ban nationwide if he supports the idea.

“I can’t understand the logic of buying used tyres that are extremely unsafe for use since they could be worn, scratched or torn,” said Al Ansari.  

“Even if they are patched, just because they are cheaper, this is one of the main reasons for accidents on the road.

“People tend to buy those cheap tyres, but they could explode within six months of usage due to their appalling condition.

“The problem is that a lot of expatriate labourers buy them for their old vehicles, not knowing about the consequences, rather than spending more to get new tyres.”

Al Ansari added that by selling used tyres garages were also providing rioters with materials with which to block roads.

“An easy way to avoid suspicion is to buy used tyres for a vehicle and tell the worker the intent is to save money,” he said.

“The rubber is then removed and used in terrorist acts and arson on roads and major highways.

“In most cases, shopkeepers don’t ask people why they are buying less than five used tyres because they are under the assumption that four will be fitted on a car and one will be a spare, even if not fixed at the same shop.”

He added it was unlikely that rioters would be prepared to spend money on expensive new tyres to then set them on fire.

“The problem is with used tyres and, for that, we decided to impose the ban,” he said. - TradeArabia News Service