Ashley Johnson
This post may contain affiliate links from our advertisers.
While used tires have a terrible reputation since they are, well, worn, a free used tire is another matter. Free usually implies a catch, a sign of quality, or an indication of what you are receiving.
While I will outline where I can get free old tires locally, I must ensure that they are not tires you should consider using for your vehicle.
I can tell you where to get free old tires whether you’re working on an art project, need to shred tires for filler, are constructing a barrier, or have another DIY project in mind.
Contents
Although it may appear difficult to get free used tires, it is not. Some of my preferred sources are listed below:
I’ve been able to obtain them using all of the places mentioned above. However, these particular tires are very worn, likely bald, and should not be driven on. Our top advice for purchasing old tires is not to put your faith in the vendor. For a good reason, these tires are free.
Recommended: 7 Ways to Sell Used Tires for Cash
Depending on your requirement for free tires, you may want to look at other following options:
You have several solid alternatives if you’re searching for a pair of worn-out tires to practice drifting on in a safe track setting.
The condition of the tires may not be outstanding, depending on where you bought them. Your stopping distances are larger the shallower the tread wear is.
Additionally, deteriorated tire conditions, such as dry rot from age, enhance the chance of a blowout. Some of the used tires we discover that are legitimately for sale pose a threat.
You must thoroughly check a free old tire if you consider utilizing it. Sometimes “free” items cost you more in the long run.
Along with checking the tread wear and tire age, you should also search for flaws, punctures, plugs, and patches since these may all impair the tire’s stability.
It’s critical to evaluate a free used tire since, in my mind, if anything is offered for free, it must be defective.
It is customary to verify the depth of the trench, but you also need to look for significant problems and assess the age.
There are a few places you may go to get free things, no matter why you need them. One of the best sources in my neighborhood is the Next Door App. I’ve had a lot of success obtaining free used tires that I can then sell to recyclers and upsellers for cash. Free tires are generally not reliable enough to be mounted on your car.
If that is your goal, I strongly advise you to read our post on secondhand tire safety inspections. This is what I have discovered after searching locally for free secondhand tires.
Ashley Johnson
Hi, I’m Ashley a freelance writer who’s passionate about personal finance. Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the power of money and how it can shape our lives. I’ve spent years learning everything I can about budgeting, saving, investing and retirement planning. So if you are looking for tips, advice, or just a little bit of inspiration to help you on your financial journey, you have come to the right place.
I am always here to help, and I am excited to share my passion for personal finance with you.
While used tires get a bad rap from being…well, used, a free used tire is another story. Free often indicates a catch or quality indicator or what you are getting. While I will discuss where I find free used tires near me, It is my responsibility to ensure that these should not be tires you consider driving on. If you are doing an art project, looking to shred tires for some filler, building a barrier, or some other project, I have you covered on where to get free used tires. I’ll even discuss where to get some for drifting…
Where to Find Free Used Tires Near MeFree second hand tires may seem hard to come by, but they are actually not. Here are some of my favorite sources:
I have had success getting them using all of the above.
These types of tires though are likely really worn, probably bald and should not be driven on. One of our biggest tips for buying used tires is NOT trusting the seller. These tires are free for a reason.
Depending on your reason for needing tires for free, you can consider looking at two alternatives. You can check for:
There are good options if you are looking for a set of beat up tires to learn to drift on in a controlled track environment.
Why Don’t Local Tire Shops Give Away Old Tires?You may have noticed there are no free options from local tire shops. It may seem like these places would want to take old bald used tires instead of paying a disposal fee, they are concerned about liability.
If you take the second hand tires, put them on your vehicle, get in an accident, they are worried about a law suit. They would rather pay the state disposal fees and keep their business safe.
Well some folks like to make art, some use for gardening, and others make tire swings, I like to make money.
We have already addressed on this blog 7 ways to make cash from selling used tires. You can reference that article for some ideas. Now the trick though is that most of your options aren’t going to be quality enough to have resale value to a local used tire supplier.
So what do you do?…
Well, you can find a recycling center or tire recycler who pays cash for tires. You can also find someone who upcycles. A tire recycler is a company that turns tires into fuel and products like gym mats, asphalt filler, playground flooring etc. A person who upcycles is someone who takes an old tire and turns it into art and then charges more money for it.
A set of bald tires can become like racing slicks, with their lack of grip. That can make them ideal to learn how to drift a car. This video covers the basic of finding free second hand tires for practicing drifting. These are not rubbers you should be using for everyday street driving…
Free Used Tires Can Have Big Risks
Depending on where you got the tires they may not be in great shape. The more shallow the treadwear the longer your stopping distances are. There is also increased risk of a blow out due to poor tire conditions like dry rot from aging. Some used tires that we find that are actually for sale can be dangerous.
If you are considering using a free used tire, you need to properly inspect it. Sometimes things that are “free” can cost you more later.
While you should look at the treadwear and the tires age, you should also check for defects, punctures, plugs, and patches all which weaken the tires ability to be stable.
Free tires are great, but not if they don’t fit your vehcile.You must consider your vehicles requirements and all 4 tires should have similar sizes, ratings, and tread patterns. See below how to read a tires sidewall to determine if they are the correct size for your needs…
Getting the wrong size or load capacity is a big mistake. You can find your vehicles requiremnets on the sticker inside the drivers side door jam, your owners manual, or look them up online. To determine if the tire is right for you, look at the alphanumeric code on the sidewall of the tire.
It will look something like this:
P1205/65R15 94H M+S
For a car tire look for the letter “P” which stands for passenger vehicle.
All of the sidewall numbers and letters are important, but load rating is probably the most critical after rim diameter. Never put a tire on your car that is below the required load rating for your vehicle.
When l look for free used tires near me, first I look for correct size, next I inspect is the quality. Free or not, never take a tire that is bald or doesn’t look healthy.
How to Assess a Tires Quality…Assesssing a free used tire is important, because if it’s free, my assumption is always there is something wrong with it. Checking the treadepth is par for the course, but you also need to check the age, and inspect for major issues.
Consider the following when searching for free used tires:
For more details on each of these and more inspection points, read this article here.
Where to Get Free Used Tires…Final ThoughtsRegardless of your reason for needing freebies, there are a few options to find them. The Next Door App in my local area is one of the est sources. I have had a lot of luck getting free second hand tires and then flipping them for cash to recyclers and upsellers. Tires that you obtain for free should probably not be trusted to put on your vehicle.
If that is your intention I would highly encourage you to review our article on inspecting used tires for safety. This is what I have learned from looking around for free used tires near me.
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.
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.
/save/koleso-hack/
How to save money on buying car tires and wheels?
Tire parameters important to look for: width, profile height and rim diameter Tire manufacturer and model 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.
/top-economic-cars/
11 economical cars for daily driving
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 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.
| 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:
But there are also disadvantages:
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.
/save/garage-hack/
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:
| 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:
But there are also disadvantages:
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.
/avito-fraud/
Avito: how to avoid scammers
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-ruCar 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.
/carservice/
How to save money on the operation of the car
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.
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.
/wtf/bezkoles/
How online tire stores deceive car owners
The tire release marking always looks like this: the first two digits are the week of production, the second two are the yearTread 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.
/mini-jcw/
How much does it cost to own a Mini John Cooper Works
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.
/guide/rezina/
How to choose tires for a car or crossover
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 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 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.
Dear customers, please note that after June 29, 2022
activation of the Extended Warranty for DUNLOP tires will not be available.
If you have already purchased DUNLOP tires before June 15, 2022 inclusive,
activate your purchase before June 29, 2022 to get access to
Extended Warranty. All previously activated
warranties are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
The DUNLOP Extended Warranty is valid in the Russian Federation,
is in addition to the standard
warranty and applies to certain tire models
Purchase of DUNLOP tires (see list of models) from an authorized DUNLOP point of sale (see list) through June 15, 2022 is covered by the Extended Warranty.
It is possible to activate the Extended Warranty up to 29June 2022 inclusive.
Activate the purchase on the site http://dunlop-warranty.ru/ within 14 calendar days from the date of purchase. The received Extended Warranty activation code is valid for each tire in the receipt. No more than three activations in the program per phone number and email address within one year from the date of the first activation are allowed.
The Extended Warranty is valid for one year from the date of purchase of the tire and provides the option to repair a damaged tire free of charge or receive a refund equal to the value of the tire on the purchase receipt if repairs are not possible.
DUNLOP Extended Warranty applies to single tire purchases.
The DUNLOP Extended Warranty is available to individuals only.
The last date for a possible application under the DUNLOP Extended Warranty program is June 29, 2023.
In the event of a Warranty Case, the Consumer should contact the point of sale where the tire was purchased and provide:
Damaged tire
0298 fact of purchase of tire
at this point of sale
Activation code RG
At the point of sale, damage is recorded, an Act is drawn up and a decision is made on free repair or payment of compensation.
Compensation will ONLY be paid if the tire cannot be repaired and will be paid at the shop where the tire was purchased.
Each case of cash compensation by check is agreed by the store with DUNLOP on an individual basis as soon as possible, but no more than 10 business days from the date of application.
Free repair on the same day.
If a tire is repaired under the Extended Warranty program, tire service is provided free of charge.
Tires repaired free of charge under extended warranty will not be eligible for this promotion again.
Extended Warranty covers accidental damage only: puncture, cut, tear, and sidewall bulge.
When paying monetary compensation, the consumer is obliged to leave the damaged tire at the point of sale.
If this condition is not met, the dealer has the right to refuse compensation.
The Extended Warranty is not a replacement for, and does not replace or modify the basic warranty provided under consumer protection law.
The terms of the Extended Warranty may be modified at any time by modifying these rules posted on the website https://dunlop-tire.com/warranty.
Types of damage
