I'm the same. Working with tyres all my life, I'm very picky.My first job when buying a new vehicle is to have it checked over, front to back by a qualified technician, and then replace the tyres all round. Although I’m in the very lucky position of being involved in a independent garage business, the mileage I travel and the roads I use mean I feel safe to travel. It’s a personal trait, but those black round objects are my first line of defence when/if things get awkward....as they can.
The MX-5 I bought a couple of years ago was basically sound, but showing signs of lack of understanding and cosmetic neglect.
It was also fitted with 4 odd tyres. Worse than that one of them was a Zeta. You don't have to dig very hard to find all sorts of horror stories about these tyres.
I drove the car carefully just 5 miles to the local tyre fitters and had a full set of 'real' tyres fitted before I felt confident to explore the car's handling any further.
The car has turned out to be fine, and has the ability to make you smile each time you turn the steering wheel.