How much are my used tires worth


How Much Do Used Tires Sell For?

Jokes aside, the cost of buying brand new tires can be a pain. Especially if you own a sports car, pick-up truck, or an off-road/SUV equipped with with a 20 plus inch tire. For example, those tires can cost north of $400 for Yokohama Geolandar X-AT a piece! A quick calculation will bring you to a total of $1600 for all 4. What about used tires? How much do those cost? 

How Much Do Used Tires Sell For?

Well depending on various conditions, like the tire tread wear, it can be as far as 40-60% of the price of the new tire. The logic behind that should be 40% tire tread wear, 40% of the price of a new tire, but it also depends on the dimensions and e t.c. So, it is actually a fair amount of money that you can save on buying used tires. Easy-peasy? Not quite. You should do some research in order to avoid any traps and be better prepared to choose the right tire.

What to look for while choosing used tires
  1. Tire damage
  2. Retreaded tire
  3. Tire age
  4. Tire tread
  5. Origin

Tire damage

Well, obviously you should check for any visual damage as, after all, we are talking about a tire that was used, probably, every day. Beware of any chips and damages sustained from parking a car by the sidewalks, for instance. Another reason for worrying is damage that can appear while running over a pothole, especially the ones that are not properly leveled and have nasty sharp edges. The cut damage from hitting a pothole or a sidewalk is one thing but a bulge can also be dangerous as it disrupts the integrity of the tire and can potentially lead to a flat tire with an explosive bang effect. Highly dangerous!

And after all, any damage can be acceptable if the repair is done right by the professionals. Any honest repair shop will do this as it should be done and any patch or tire plug shouldn’t be a thing to be worried about. If the tire patch is made to the sidewall, tire tread shoulder, or belt edge, then you should avoid these used tires and that used tire shop altogether. That is not a safe tire.

Retreaded tire

When the tires are worn enough to become unusable, there is the option to be retreaded. That means that a new layer of rubber tread is laid down in order to make the tire usable again. The biggest benefit here, besides the lower price compared to buying a new tire, is one less used tire thrown away. This means that there is no need for another waste of energy in order to recycle a tire, or even worse for the tire to be just laying around and piling in someone’s backyard. 

While there are a lot of companies that are using this technology to “bring back the life” to the tire, there is also a good reason why big manufacturers are not retreading their tires. Should you avoid a retreaded tire? It is up to you. There is a possibility of the retreaded tire delaminate which can lead to the obvious dangerous situation. The smartest thing to do is to check the retreading company’s background and see if the customers have some complaints about any problems.

Tire age

The tire age is one of the most important indicators, besides the tire tread wear that you should consider when buying a used tire. A general opinion is that a tire can be used up to 10 years, but be aware as the older it gets it loses the ability to maintain good contact to the road due to the loss of elastic characteristic of the tire. That is why car manufacturers recommend changing a tire at a maximum of 6 years in which period a tire can still retain its optimal characteristics. 

How can you determine the tire age? There is a four-digit DOT code on the sidewall of the tire that shows us the week and the year in which the tire was manufactured. For example DOT code 1017 shows that the tire was manufactured in the 10th week of the year 2017.

Tire tread

The tire tread wear can be easily measured if the tire was properly used and evenly worn. If there is an anomaly that indicates uneven wear of the tire, don’t buy it! Uneven tire wear shows that either the driver wasn’t very gentle with the vehicle hence the tires, or that his vehicle wasn’t technically OK, or the tires weren’t aligned properly. Those tires won’t do any good to your car, buddy.

The easiest and the most usual test for measuring the tire tread depth is by using a penny coin. 

Just insert the penny into the tire grooves, with the head of the famous president upside down, and check if the head is covered by the tread or not. If the tip of the head is covered then the tire tread is at least 2/32 inches, which is just enough. Repeat this test on various parts of the tire tread to be sure that it is evenly worn. Anyway, this is the bare minimum and you should avoid this tire as it will be a bad investment unless you are selling your car and don’t want to invest much. 

If you are buying used tires and still want to be safe and sound, then you should know that tire tread is directly related to performance. Of course, the tire compound is the biggest factor, but the tire tread can affect the performance, especially the stopping distance while braking. For example, a new tire with 10/32nds tread can be almost double more efficient under braking than a heavily used tire with 2/32nds tread. Safety is most important and you should have this information on your mind when choosing a used tire. 

If you are driving on snow this is even more important.

Origin

Why is that important? Well, up north, on the snowy roads, the tires could be potentially exposed to salt which can damage them if not used properly or washed after driving on a road paved with that raw salt. On the other hand, if the tires were used down there on scorching Tennessee sun, then there is a good chance that no matter how “young” the tires are, they are probably unusable as they’ve lost all the flexibility and can deteriorate sooner than usual. 

So the origin of the used tire is a very important factor but is also very difficult to detect especially if you are not buying them from the owner on ads, rather from a shop that can’t guarantee that information.

Conclusion

If you are expecting to get a straight answer if you should go ahead with buying a used tire instead of a new one, well, that is up to you and your personal estimation. Whether you need to change your tires because the lease is coming to the end or you are looking to sell your car, or you need to change your tires because yours are finished, used tires are a great option. You’ll save a lot of money, which in these pandemic times can make a difference, and you’ll also be able to choose a tire model that was maybe unreachable when new. 

Yours truly had an unpleasant experience with used tires that had sufficient tire tread but they were old enough to perform like driving on ice. The other bad news is that those tires were fitted on a 2008 Yamaha FZ6 and I had 2 months of riding experience at the time. So of course I fell off the motorcycle because I wasn’t able to stop when needed. The good thing was that I arrived in the middle of the corner riding at 20 mph so the fall wasn’t very heavy, but the bad thing was that I took my wife with me on that ride. So my wife’s broken palm as a result of all that and a very expensive lection about research for used tires.  

My point is that the tires are the only thing that keeps you safe on the road so you have to be thorough when researching for used tires and you’ll be just fine. Don’t be naïve and use all the knowledge that you’ve learned in this article and go out there playing detective. Buying used tires doesn’t have to be a boring thing especially if you know a trick or two about it!

Used Tire Cost: How Much Are They?

No matter the type of car you own, your car is only as good as your tires. This means that every driving input you do needs to go through the tires and onto the road. By investing in higher-end tires, you are essentially broadening the spectrum of what you and your car are capable of.

What Affects Used Tire Prices?

  • Initial price from new
  • Tread
  • Wheel alignment
  • Age
  • Tire brand
  • Tire size
  • Tire type

How Does Initial Tire Price Affect Used Tire Price?

No matter if you buy an expensive item or a cheap one, chances are that both of these will suffer from depreciation. Tire depreciation can easily be viewed as a percentage of value a tire loses during its lifespan. More expensive tires start with a higher price tag, but they follow a similar depreciation curve as cheaper tires do.

This is because the price itself isn’t as important as all the other factors listed above combined. Therefore, losing 30% of the value from a $1000 tire isn’t the same as losing 30% of the value from a $100 tire. This inevitably means that more expensive tires tend to lose more value from a dollar-per-dollar standpoint while cheaper tires lose the same percentage, but not the same amount.

How Does Tread Affect Used Tire Price?

The more you use a tire, the less effective it becomes. The less effective the tire becomes, the less sense there is to buying it. Therefore, no one is willing to pay considerable amounts of money on a tire that has little to no tread life left. Remaining tread depth is determined by measuring the tread with a tread depth gauge. As the tread tends to wear off, the value of the tire is soon to follow. Either way, be sure to always check how much tread a tire has left with these two handy tricks.

How Does Wheel Alignment Affect Used Tire Price?

Wheel alignment does not necessarily affect used tire prices directly, but rather the effects of improper wheel alignment. If you fail to precisely align your wheels so they can meet the road at the exact angle, chances are that your tires will experience uneven wear.

Uneven wear means that some parts of the tire are noticeably more worn out and that the tire is not able to perform in the same way across its entire surface. Tires with considerable uneven wear aren’t going to fool anyone as these tires are the very cheapest usable used tires you can get. You can’t even properly predict how long these tires can last.

How Does Tire Age Affect Used Tire Price?

Tire age works in a similar way as tire tread because the older the tire, the less tread it has. However, age plays a more pivotal role in other situations, such as when you don’t use your tires. If you keep your tires stored for a long time, even though they have lots of tread left, they are simply too old to be used.

Moreover, the modern-day tire industry has shown great improvement over tires made in the past few decades. So even if you do store old unused tires perfectly, chances are that they are not going to be as advanced as the tires you can buy today. To top it all off, the structural integrity of a tire sidewall tends to deteriorate as tires get older and older.

How Does Tire Brand Affect Used Tire Price?

Brands like Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Pirelli, BF Goodrich, and Bridgestone are known as premium tire brands. Being a premium tire brand means making tires for the very best and most advanced cars on the market. Premium tires cost a lot more money than mid-level tires and they perform better in most relevant areas.

Used tires with premium badges are also going to be more valuable on the 2nd hand market as people are more willing to invest in a brand known for quality. This is especially the case when it comes to used tires as you are never too sure if the tire is as good as it looks.

How Does Tire Size Affect Used Tire Price?

Some tire sizes are more popular than others which means that the used tire market is in greater demand for such tires. 15 and 16-inch tires are likely the most popular tire sizes out there which means that most used tire buyers are going to want 15 and 16-inch used tires.

However, low-profile tires tend to be more expensive from the get-go which also means that they are more expensive when buying used. Also, a really large truck tire uses much more rubber, steel, cotton, and all other materials during production which also pushes the price of such used tires.

How Does Tire Type Affect Used Tire Price?

Not all tires are made equal which means that certain types of tires are more expensive than others. For example, an industry-standard all-season tire is always going to be a lot cheaper than a performance tire or a specific off-roading tire. Winter tires use different compounds which wear out faster and pre-mounted winter/snow tires are a bit trickier to buy for that very reason.

Why Should I Buy Used Tires?

There are a couple of reasons why people tend to opt for used tires as opposed to simply buying a set of brand-new tires. First of all, used tires are cheaper and it often makes more sense to buy a set of used tires for a particular car that isn’t getting as much use as a typical daily driver. So, if you own an old car that you only drive occasionally at low speeds, there is no need for you to overspend on a set of brand-new tires.

Furthermore, by buying used tires, you are actively lowering the effects used tires have on our environment. The good thing is that you can recycle both new and used tires which means that you can take them to certain facilities where you can even make some money doing that. No matter how you look at it, it makes perfect sense to recycle tires.

Before you decide to buy used tires, you need to be able to inspect them carefully and thoroughly. First of all, you need to find out when were the tires made. You also need to find out how much tread is left on the tire and if there are any cuts, pierces, or similar defects on both the face and the sidewall of the tire. Go around the entire tire and don’t skimp a mere inch.

Be sure to know what you are after before you come and start looking for tires. It is also essential to make sure that the tire you are looking at can even fit your wheel and your car. If you do all of this carefully and with a decent understanding of what is going to happen if you don’t, you should buy used tires.

Where Can I Buy Used Tires?

There are plenty of places out there where you can buy used tires. You should start by looking at your local tire centers and dealerships as these often stock used tires if such tires are worthy of resale. Big-box retail shops such as Walmart, Sears, Costco, etc.) can also sometimes stock used tires while also selling them for a considerable discount.

Online services such as eBay, Craigslist, Amazon, or Kijiji are filled with loads of used tires and wheels, but these are a bit trickier as you are usually buying from private individuals. It is often best to search for specialized used tire shops that predominantly deal with refurbishing used tires as these are the places with the best deals and best used tires in general.

Conclusion

Determining a used tire cost requires a bit of knowledge as not all tires depreciate in the same way. It is reasonable to think that a standard used tire should only cost about 30%-50% of the tire’s original price, but some tires, such as lightly used high-performance tires, can cost up to 75% of the original price tag.

Either way, many factors affect how much a used tire costs, all of which are important. If you do decide to buy a set of used tires, be sure to do so carefully as used tires need to be inspected thoroughly before buying.

how to choose, check and whether it is worth buying used tires

Konstantin Ishchenko

experienced car enthusiast

The motorist's budget is hit the hardest when you have to buy both summer and winter sets of tires within one year.

For example, the popular Nissan Qashqai is equipped with 225/45 R19 tires in the maximum configuration, a set of the middle price category will cost about 50,000 RUR.

But there is an option to save money and buy used tires. This article will tell you how to safely buy used tires and when you shouldn't.

You will know:

  • How to know which tires to look for
  • Is it worth buying used tires
  • Why they sell used tires and who does it
  • Where to buy used tires
  • What to check when buying used tires
  • Additional things to check when buying used winter tires
  • How to calculate the fair price of used tires (calculator)

How to know which tires to look for

Or the season has changed. We wrote in detail about how to assess the condition of tires and understand when they need to be changed in a separate instruction. Before you start looking for tires, it is important to be able to read their parameters. The most important in this situation are the size, manufacturer and model of the tire.

If the task is to buy a set of four tires, then it is important to respect the size. If you damaged one tire, you will have to look for exactly the same one: two wheels of the same axle must have tires with the same tread pattern, and this is possible only in the case of tires of the same model.

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Tire parameters important to look for: width, profile height and rim diameter Tire manufacturer and model

Does it make sense to buy used tires

According to Avtostat, an average car in Russia drives 17,500 km per year. Let's take the average wear resistance of tires according to the Treadwear index - 320 and calculate how long a new set of summer tires could theoretically last.

Every 100 index units is 12,500 km, which means tires are rated for 40,000 km. Assuming that the summer kit is used for 6 months out of 12, the mileage for six months is 8750 km, and the kit is enough for 4.5 seasons.

If the annual mileage is 30,000 km, then the summer kit should wear out in 2.7 seasons. But I have not met people who change tires in the middle of the season: either they change them in the spring, or they drive them until autumn.

Judging by Yandex Market, the average popular tire 205/55 R16 costs 5500 R, which means that the set is 22 000 R. Let's round up 2.7 to three full seasons. One season costs Rs. pay more than 14,000 R. How to evaluate the tread depth on a used tire, we will tell a little later.

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These are very average values, but still usable. There is no perfect formula, operating conditions and driving style are very different.

Buying used tires will allow you not to get into a loan if a new set is too expensive. Or it will help those who know for sure that at the end of the season they will change the car: there is no point in buying new tires for the next driver. However, the theoretical calculation does not take into account your travel time for the next purchase and the risks of buying a bad kit. If you plan to drive a car for at least two years, buy new tires.

Velcro on stamped disc. A set of tires and wheels - 3000 R. I took it to change the car into it for the duration of a long body repair. It was a pity for me to leave the car on the expensive original casting. I had to spend two weeks searching, look through hundreds of ads and once go to the other end of the city. When the wheels are no longer needed, I plan to sell for 6000 R

Why they sell used tires and who does it

At first glance, selling tires is illogical. Tires need to be worn out completely and then disposed of, but the market for used rubber is huge. It has several types of sellers with very different offers.

Companies that sell used tires from Europe and Japan. Despite the ban on the import of used rubber, which has been in effect in the Eurasian Customs Union since January 1, 2010, this business is booming. The main thing is to prove that tires are not hazardous waste and they are not imported for recycling. Therefore, on Avito and various sites, many offices offer used tires of various brands, sizes and models.

Advantages and disadvantages of specialized stores that sell used tires

Benefits Defects
Huge selection of summer tires

Advice available, professionals know their product

Usually there is a tire service on site

Safer online shopping. Many sell by bank transfer as a full-fledged online store

Tire warranty until the first tire fitting, a defective tire will be changed to a good one or money will be returned

There is almost no choice of winter tires: no studded and little friction - Velcro. You can only buy "euro-winter" for mild climatic conditions.

Consultation will not always be truthful and in the interests of the buyer. Everything is like on the market in the bad sense of the word

Tires can be of the old year of manufacture

Here are some of the advantages of specialized stores that sell used tires:

  1. Huge selection of summer tires.
  2. You can get advice, professionals know their product
  3. Usually there is a tire service on site.
  4. More secure online shopping. Many trade by bank transfer as a full-fledged online store.
  5. Tire warranty until the first tire fitting, a defective tire will be replaced with a good one or the money will be returned.

But there are also disadvantages:

  1. There is almost no choice of winter tires: no studded and low-friction Velcro tires. You can only buy "euro-winter" for mild climatic conditions.
  2. Advice will not always be truthful and in the best interests of the buyer. Everything is like in the market in the bad sense of the word.
  3. Tires may be old year.
Warehouse of one of the used rubber sales companies. Darker and shiny tires have already been given a marketable appearance. They look fresher and more attractive

Dealers and tire shops. They differ from the first ones in scale - they are much smaller, and also in that they trade at best on the scale of one city. Often the base for such activities is a tire shop. They buy cheaply at Avito or from tire fitting clients, sell more expensively at Avito or other tire fitting clients.

There are also not very pleasant scenarios: an unscrupulous tire fitting worker offers to dispose of a completely normal set of tires “out of friendship” and gets it for free. For another client, the same kit “very much nothing, two seasons will definitely pass” costs 15,000 rubles.

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A typical tire shop that sells rubber for emergency replacement of a damaged tire. The choice is small, storage is not according to the rules: direct sunlight damages tires. But there are situations when there is no choice

Individuals who sell unwanted tires for a variety of reasons. Here are the main ones:

  • the car was sold or trade-in, there were tires or even wheels assembled. Selling separately for added value. This makes sense: a car will definitely not become more expensive due to a set of wheels;
  • the car was stolen, smashed or stopped driving in winter. There was a set of wheels left, which, in general, has nowhere to go;
  • bought new tires, they sell the old one. Often the tires are completely worn out and ask for scrap, but the owners try to sell them at the price of a set "for the season". Unfortunately, Avito is inundated with such announcements.

Advantages and disadvantages of buying tires from an individual

Advantages of Defects
You can search for tires by car make and model, not just size

With a little luck, you can make a super bargain

It will take a long time and carefully to choose among ads

Many do not know what they are selling (mistakes in tire names, sizes and models are normal)

A rare seller agrees to tire fitting in his presence, everything will have to be checked by himself and by hand

Many scammers: they can offer to leave an advance payment and disappear or send an erased kit instead of what is in the ad

No warranty on tires

Here are some of the benefits of buying used tires from individuals:

  1. You can search tires by car make and model, not just size.
  2. With a certain amount of luck, you can make a super bargain.

But there are also disadvantages:

  1. You will have to choose among ads for a long time and carefully.
  2. Many do not know what they are selling (errors in names, sizes and tire models are the norm)
  3. A rare seller agrees to tire fitting in his presence, everything will have to be checked by himself and by hand.
  4. Many scammers: they may offer to leave an advance payment and disappear or send an erased set instead of what is in the ad.
  5. No warranty on tires.
The wheel from the kit, which I bought from a private trader from the Mini club telegram chat. The seller got rid of the car and urgently sold the original casting on almost new tires. 16,000 R for such a set is a gift of fate. And in order not to take risks, I asked a friend to control the shipment of wheels to my city

Where they buy used tires

Universal ad platforms: Avito, Yula and others. Here is the largest selection of used tires. Both private traders and professionals sell. Despite the convenient application and filters, it takes a lot of time to search. Don't expect every seller to list the model correctly. Bridgestone Potenza can become just "Bridge Stone" - and this is not the worst option.

You will have to scroll through a huge number of ads with completely worn-out tires that are only suitable for recycling. Unfortunately, no filters will save you from this. Looking for tires on Avito is like looking for a treasure: you have to dig a lot, and no one guarantees a reward, but some are lucky.

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Adjust the filter by size - so you will have more chances to find the tires you need You can no longer drive on such tires: they are worn out to the limit marks, this can be seen even in the photo. Plus, the sidewalls are very worn out. But the seller still thinks that he can get 3000 R for them

Websites for car sales announcements: "Avto-ru" and "Drom". There are few private ads here, mainly specialized stores operate on such sites.

Droma has the largest selection of used wheels and tires from Japan in the country. Drome offers a good customer protection service and acts as a guarantor of purchase: if they send you worn or damaged tires, the site will return the money. If everything is fine, they will be transferred to the seller.

At the time of writing the article on Avto-ru, there were only five private ads for the sale of tires of the common size 205/50 R17 throughout Russia. It makes no sense to look for tires from private traders on this site. Source: Avto-ru

Car club sites: forums, chats, Drive-2 — places where representatives of car clubs communicate. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the site itself. This can be a group on Vkontakte, a chat on Telegram or WhatsApp.

There are fewer offers here, but they are more interesting, more likely to find a good set. It is not customary to post completely junk for sale in communities or to greatly inflate the price: the ad will be discussed, criticized, or even deleted altogether.

But don't forget about safety. You should not buy something without verification or send the entire amount to a stranger in another city. It is usually customary to ask a friend of a teammate to go look at the kit and make sure that the tires are sent. Here, as a rule, you can place your ad on the purchase of the necessary tires and wait for responses.

There is a flea market on Drive-2. It is not very popular, but it is worth looking into it: there are filters separately for disks, wheels and tires, you can specify the dimensions.

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Special online stores and car disassembly. In most cases, such sellers open an official representative office on Avito, but some sites are still working. They may have rare tires or a more interesting price. Large auto-dismantlers rarely sell tires - they mainly sell sets of wheels. The condition of the tires on the rims is most often mediocre: a car is not sent to scrap on good tires.

Tire shops and car services. It's hard to find interesting deals on tires here, it's not their business. Tires in a tire shop are usually bought in emergency cases: when one or more tires are damaged, but you need to somehow drive a couple of weeks to pay.

What to check when buying used tires

Price. Before buying used tires, it is better to check the price of new tires of the right size. Tires from young Chinese brands are very cheap, and the market for used tires is overheated and overpriced. It is impossible to unequivocally answer which is better: a new tire from an unknown manufacturer or a used tire from a well-known brand. But it is necessary to compare, study reviews and weigh everything.

At first glance, an excellent offer. A set of fresh tires 215/55 R17 with 20% wear for 18,000 R. But the indicated balance of 6 mm is about 30% wear. The remaining tread of the new tire is 8 mm, the tread limiter bar has a height of 1. 6 mm. The tire is worn 2 mm. Usable tread depth: 8 mm − 1.6 mm = 6.4 mm. 2mm from 6.4mm is 31% wear. Source: Avito But then it turns out that the new ones are very inexpensive. The remaining 6 mm is two-thirds of the tire resource, which means that buying such a kit costs no more than 16,000 R. Source: Yandex Market

Manufacturer, model, size, indices and other features. Be sure to check all tire specifications - everything that is indicated on the sidewall. The seller may not understand tires well or deliberately lie. Carefully inspect each tire. For example, you can accidentally buy a set of four tires, where three will be with runflat technology and one without it. If buying tires remotely, always ask for individual photos of each tire in full detail, or even better, a video.

Tire year. Among the advertisements of specialized stores, there are often tires that are more than 5 years old. Tires may have excellent tread residue, but it is better to refrain from such a purchase. The older the tire, the worse its properties and the greater the chance of hidden damage: cracks, delaminations and ruptures.

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The tire release marking always looks like this: the first two digits are the week of production, the second two are the year

Tread depth. It is not necessary to measure the residual depth "by eye", it is better to buy a special device or use a caliper. The standard tread depth of new summer car tires is 7-8 mm, winter tires are 8-10 mm.

About tires that are long overdue for disposal, they wrote above: summer tires less than 4 mm or winter tires less than 5 mm should not be bought "for the season", it is not safe.

Digital Tread Depth Gauge is a simple and cheap instrument. It will help to accurately measure the residual tread depth and adjust the price of a set of tires. Source: Yandex Market

Tread condition, damage and repairs. Do not buy tires with uneven tread wear. They will not be able to provide a complete drainage of water from the contact patch with the road, it is unsafe to ride on them. Severe cuts or even the absence of individual tread fragments will also be a reason to refuse a purchase. Without a specialist, you run the risk of buying a tire that you cannot use.

But do not be afraid of well-repaired punctures. Tires with patches on the inside of the tread part can be bought, this will not affect further operation. You should not buy tires on which punctures were repaired with a tourniquet.

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Obviously, this tire is no good: there is almost no tread, the studs are completely worn out. The central part is almost completely missing, and the sidewalls are less worn. Maybe the tire was pumped. Surprisingly, they also sell such

Cracks and delaminations. Long longitudinal cracks, along the circumference of the tire on the sidewall or small cracks in the tread area - in any case, bad. Either such a tire was poorly stored, or it is very old. This is a particularly dangerous case, because such a tire can collapse while driving and cause a terrible accident. Cracks are not repaired, so you will have to refrain from buying.

Sidewall condition, damage and repairs. Hernias of any size, side cuts and patches on the side of the tire are good reasons to keep looking. You can't buy these tires.

Carefully inspect and feel the sidewalls of the tires. Unfortunately, not all defects can be found on a tire without a disk and without air inside. It will be ideal if you can mount tires on rims in a tire shop. Ask to balance the wheels and only then pay.

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If in doubt that the tires are intact, look for another option. Remember that it is the tires that connect your car and the road.

The surface adjacent to the rim may also be damaged on the tire. The photo shows the consequences of careless tire fitting of an old tire. I don't recommend buying this tire. If in doubt, and the offer is very interesting, ask the opinion of a tire fitting specialist

Additional checks when buying used winter tires

Presence of spikes and their condition. It is not necessary to count every stud on a tire, it is difficult and time consuming. Just look at the tire: if it seems that there are about half of the studs on it or less, you do not need to buy a tire. Studded tires without studs won't get Velcro, so don't just look at the tread.

Studs on a tire that has already been driven for a couple of seasons look very different from new ones. They were worn off along the way, the seats were broken. In the background, you can see that the tire has already begun to lose studs. Even with sufficient tread, you can be left without spikes very quickly, it is better to look for another option

How to calculate a fair price for used tires

Ads often offer used tires at an inflated price. We have made a special calculator that will help you calculate the fair value of tires, regardless of the manufacturer, technical parameters of tires and their number in the kit.


How to buy used tires

  1. When looking for used tires, check all possible sites and do not be lazy to look for a community of owners of the same cars.
  2. Don't buy used tires until you compare prices. It is important to understand how much a tire of the same brand, model and size, but new, costs.
  3. Remember about the safety of online shopping: ask questions in advance, ask for additional photos and videos and beware of scammers.
  4. Check each tire very carefully. Make sure that all tires are made by the same manufacturer at about the same time, all tires have the same parameters. Make sure that there are no bulges, cracks, tears or delaminations on the tires and that the tread is worn evenly.
  5. Do not delay your trip to the tire shop: the less time passes, the more chances you have to return defective tires to the seller.
  6. And the last advice, already as a seller. If your tires are worn out, don't try to sell them, scrap them: they are accepted in many shops where you can buy tires, and you can also put them in special containers that are available at some gas stations.

New tires or used - which is better?

Which tires are better to buy: new or used? The question that every second motorist asks. We will try to talk about the pros and cons of both options.

Tires are a relatively inexpensive part of a car, but in total they cost quite a lot of money over the entire life of the car.

  • Where
  • tires come from
  • Types of tire damage
  • What is still better?

Car tires are probably one of the few car parts that needs to be replaced regularly. In many respects, this depends on several factors: the intensity of the vehicle’s operation, the time of year, the condition of the roads, the type of car, etc. Therefore, every self-respecting motorist must simultaneously own at least two sets: winter and summer tires.

It's no secret that maintenance and service of your iron horse is not a cheap task. The same goes for changing tires. High-quality and reliable tires designed for high mileage are not cheap, so even people who are provided with everything are increasingly thinking about how to save money when solving this issue. One of these personal savings options is buying used tires. This article will discuss what is better and what are the advantages of this or that choice.

Tire warehouse

If you belong to that part of car owners who believe that used tires are dangerous and inappropriate, then we advise you to familiarize yourself with their classification:

  1. Tires from insurance companies.

    Europeans tend to insure everything and everything. This also applies to car tires, which are replaced when damaged or worn. Moreover, the entire set changes, even if one part of it is damaged. The depreciation of the unit in this case does not exceed 10%.

  2. Leasing companies.

    The supplier again is Europe with all its features and nuances of the automotive business. Scheduled maintenance obliges drivers to replace if the tread height has worn out by 3-4 mm. This means that for our roads and cars, this tire will be of very high quality.

  3. Used tires from the manufacturer.

    Many (if not all) car manufacturing companies enter into contracts for the supply of tires for their models. However, before shipment, they undergo a so-called test drive. At the same time, those tires that directly participated in it are either sent for recycling or sold as used.

  4. Domestic tire shops

    have either their own resources (our tires are worn out by 75-90%, which almost completely negates the possibility of their further use), or quality samples brought from abroad. Which one you get is a matter solely of your understanding of the problem. Therefore, used tires are a justified risk to save money.

Having bought a new tire, you can not worry about its condition and safely put it into operation. The same cannot be said about used tires, as there may be defects or damage that indirectly or directly affect your safety on the road. We have identified for you the main types of damage that are easy to see with the naked eye:

  • Punctures of the tread. The most frequent and hidden from the inexperienced view type of damage. They are obtained when the car runs into sharp or hard objects that are dotted with domestic roads. Is it dangerous? Yes, but not always. If, for example, the tire ran over a nail, and after removing it, the puncture is not visible, then the tire remains in a normal and ready-to-use condition. If it does not fit, then the cord is damaged. It is better to avoid such a purchase;
  • Sidewall cut or breakdown. This damage occurs as a result of collision with large and hard objects (curbs or stones). Whether it is repairable or not depends on many factors, but it is better to avoid such a purchase if possible. Tires that bulge or bulge after inflation should also be avoided. If the rubber in the tire is not balanced, then there is a direct danger of its use.

Ask a workshop to dismantle the tire if it is assembled on the same used wheels. And let it not seem to you excessive arrogance, because now we are talking about your safety.

Many experienced drivers believe that the most important thing in a used tire is the remaining tread depth. In fact, this can only tell you how much it will last. Much more attention should be paid to its integrity and safety. By the way, manufacturers of modern tires equip their products with special indicators that show how much the tire has worn out. It is believed that the maximum distance from the end of the tread to the rubber should be 1. 8 mm.

You should also not resort to buying car tires that were manufactured more than 7-8 years ago. It is not known how they were stored all this time and under what conditions they were used. It is very difficult to trace their history, so it is better to simply ignore such proposals.

We return to the fact that it comes down to the experience and personal skills of the driver himself. If knowledge allows you to confidently select quality tires from a trusted supplier, then this should be given attention. Otherwise, buying new ones will not become prohibitively expensive for you, and in some cases even save money. Simple math - the average level of tire wear is 50-55%, that is, they will last almost 2 times less than new tires. At the same time, their price is only 30-40% lower, so it's up to you to decide what to do.

New tires are new tires. It is perfectly balanced, has not been subjected to various loads and is ready to serve you for several years and seasons immediately after it has been broken in. But here, too, care will not be superfluous: it should fit your particular car and be selected based on the type of terrain. Properly selected tires are both safety and comfort, which not all used tires can be proud of.

Buying tires is an important business. How to proceed? Save right away or invest in new tires? How often to change it and many other questions will find their answers in different ways for everyone. Only one thing can be said for sure - used tires reduce the safety of your ride, no matter how high-quality they are.

Tire selection form

Especially to make it easy for you to choose the right tires for your car, we have developed the most convenient form of tire selection.

Take a look at the main page of the site: http://koleso-oz.ru/

With this form, you will be able to choose the model that suits your car. So, now it will be easier for you to decide which summer tires are better to choose.


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