Did you know that it’s not at all uncommon to buy used tires? If you’ve ever bought a used car then you will have bought the tires that came with it. Tires are not cheap and not everyone can afford to buy new tires all the time, which is why a secondary market of used tires exists. Used tires can be between 50-80% cheaper than new ones, one of the main reasons many people choose to buy them.
Where do used tires come from?
Used tires are sold to tire dealers regularly from vehicles that have been in accidents and towed away. These tires can sometimes be like new and in good if not an excellent condition, but the rest of the car is sent to salvage yards and so these tires are sold on.
Why buy used tires?
Better for the environment
When you think about the millions of cars on the roads and the fact that many of these need new tires regularly, you can soon see how much energy is required to manufacturer them. Buying used tires saves this energy and helping to reduce your car’s carbon footprint.
You have an older car
If your car is old and you’re not going to be keeping it for long you may not want to spend a lot on a new set of tires.
Are used tires safe?
It depends on where you buy them from – you’re more likely to buy safe tires from a trusted used tire shop you know. It never hurts to check the condition of any used tires yourself either. You should check:
- Tire depth – a minimum of 4/32”
- Damage/wear – deep cuts, bulges, or deformation.
- DOT code – (date of manufacture)
How to check a DOT code on used tires
The DOT code can be found on the side of all tires manufactured in the US. The crucial part to look for is the week and year of production towards the right of this section. For instance, this tire was manufactured in the 26th week of 2013.
Tires that only have 3 digits at the end were manufactured before the year 2000 and are definitely too old.