The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Jeddah Municipality have seized 30,000 expired and damaged tires in a raid on a warehouse in the Al-Khoumra area outside Jeddah.

This is considered the biggest haul of its kind, a source told Arab News recently.

The government team also arrested 20 mainly expatriates managing the warehouse, for violating work and residency laws. They would now be deported, he said.

The suspects had planned to sell the tires to puncture shops and car service centers in Jeddah.

The source said the tires expired in 2011; and that various shops and warehouses selling the products have been closed down until the government can determine whether they are still valid. This was done to protect the lives of drivers and pedestrians.

Fahad Al-Ghamdi from the city's road administration, which is affiliated to the General Traffic Directorate in Riyadh, warned consumers to check the expiry dates of their tires before buying them. He said the expiry dates are usually written on the tires.

He said tires are normally valid for two years. There is the danger of tires exploding if they are used beyond this date, especially over long distances, he said. He said security patrols on highways including those leading to and from Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah have dealt with more than 500 traffic accidents because of exploding tires.