All tyres sold in the UK must meet the required regulatory standards for quality and performance, so you can be at least confident that new tyres sold by reputable retailers will be safe for use. However, it is important to bear in mind that tyres are your only contact patch with the road and from a safety and performance perspective it is worth buying the best tyres you can afford. It is also worth considering that tyre longevity is not necessarily a reflection of quality - although no one wants their tyres to wear out inside 10,000 miles, assuming the wear is normal rather than related to poor wheel alignment it is largely down to how the vehicle is driven.