How much are used car tires


How much do used tires cost?

I want to save money on my next round of tires, so I’m considering buying used tires. I’ve heard they’re quite a bit cheaper than buying brand new tires, so if they work well I’m very interested in a lower price point. How much do used tires cost?

Payton Ternus · Answered on Mar 03, 2022

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

Maintenance and repair costs for your car can pile up quickly, so it’s nice to save money whenever you can.

Buying used tires is a great way to save some money in terms of car-related expenses. Used tires typically cost around 30%-50% of their original price, generally ranging from**$25-$160**. The exact costs of used tires will depend on a few factors:

  • Age of the tires
  • How many tires you buy
  • How much tread is left on the tires
  • Original purchase price
  • Type of tires

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MORE: The best all-season tires for snow

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    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.

    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 one of the few car parts that needs to be changed 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 the 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 state. 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 disassemble 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.

    If you need advice,
    or you decide to order tires with delivery, call:

    8 (926) 060-53-33

    Can I take used tires? - look inside! — magazine Behind the wheel

    Often selling tires on rims is a way to hide the patches and the "medical history" of the tire.

    Tire age

    Critical tire wear: when we risk going over the edge

    As you know, rubber loses its properties over time. It becomes less elastic, microcracks appear on its surface. Rubber, in the words of the drivers, "dubeet". The sidewalls become rigid, tire fitting is difficult. At the same time, the grip properties of the tire deteriorate, especially its ability to keep the car on wet pavement.

    Tire age limit varies depending on the quality of the rubber compound and manufacturing technology. According to GOST, the warranty period for tires is five years, and the further possibility of using the tire is determined by the consumer. As a rule, tires go longer depending on the mileage and the accuracy of the driver. But it is worth considering buying tires older than eight years, even if they look decent and, without running a single kilometer, lay in the warehouse.

    The date of manufacture is printed on the sidewall as a set of four digits: the first two indicate the week of manufacture, the next two indicate the year of manufacture. It is easy to calculate that, for example, the numbers "5012" mean that you have a tire released in December 2012.

    When buying a set, it is also important to choose not only tires of the same brand and model for all wheels, but also preferably ones that are close in age. This is the only way to count on the fact that the purchased tires in terms of properties will not differ much from one another.

    Mechanical damage to tires

    This is a special item when choosing a used tire. They can be divided into two groups - visible and hidden.

    Visible include punctures, tears, cuts, hidden - damage to the cord. This kind of damage is clearly visible when examining the inside of the tire. You can allow the presence of "fungi" and patches from the side of the tread. But their number should not be excessive. The more patches, the more difficult it is to balance the wheels, and the comfort and suspension parts suffer from this while driving, and the residual life of the tire itself is reduced.

    7 rubber signals: what the tire says about car problems

    In addition, it must be remembered that the patch blocks the exit of air from inside the wheel, but does not block the entry of moisture into the tire structure from the outside. Water, including salt containing water, getting on the metal cord, first causes rust, and then the destruction of metal threads. In comparison with a patch, a sealing puncture on both sides (“fungus”) looks preferable. But patches on the sidewall - a thing generally unacceptable. A tire with a side cut is not serviceable. In the best case, on a tire with a “healed” sidewall, you can, with care, get to the house, and then change the wheel.

    It has been noticed that other sellers, in order to hide the patches and the “medical history” of the tire, offer them complete with a disc. The buyer will not disassemble the wheel to inspect it from the inside! Often, the pressure in the tire is noticeably lower than the working one. The fact is that under normal pressure, internal damage can give itself away. Hence the advice: if you are looking at used tires, it is better to buy them without rims or not on rims.

    Cord damage

    A wheel inflated to operating pressure must be smooth, have a clear geometric shape without hernias and swellings. You can check this only by mounting the wheel on the disk and pumping it up. Therefore, when buying a used tire, it is necessary to discuss with the seller the possibility of a return in case of hidden defects.

    7 main principles for choosing summer tires

    In general, such defects are caused by damage to the cord after punctures or strong impacts. Outwardly, this is manifested in the wave-like bends of the tread - the whole thing. This can either be noticed in the parking lot or felt when driving at a slow speed. A car with damaged tires begins to rock from side to side. As the speed increases, the "waltz" disappears, but the car loses its stability. Is it dangerous.

    When the cord splits, hernias occur. Most often they are found in the shoulder area and are the result of a collision with a curbstone. How long a wheel with a hernia lasts, no one will undertake to predict.

    Tread wear

    This is the main criterion when choosing tires with mileage. The depth of the tread determines how long you can ride on these tires. Remember that according to the Rules of the Road, the tread depth of summer car tires should not be less than 1.6 mm, and winter tires - less than 4 mm. It is clear that these are critical indicators, which means that a margin of no less than 2-3 mm must be added to them.

    You also need to pay attention to the uniformity of tread wear. It should be the same in depth both in the center and along the side tracks around the entire circumference. In order for the wear pattern to be correct, measurements of the tread depth are carried out crosswise in diametrically opposite directions.

    So should you buy used tires or not?

    Buying used tires is a risky business. Too many pitfalls. It is one thing to buy tires from a neighbor or relative you trust, and quite another to buy a pig in a poke in the market. The bus is black, opaque, you can't look inside (if it is already mounted on a disk). Driving on tires with mileage can be taken as a temporary measure. I think that if you need to skate the season, then you can take a chance.


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