Should I Buy Used Car Tires?
If you’re considering buying used tires for your vehicle, it’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before making this decision. We’ve rounded up several reasons why you might want to go with used tires, as well as some reasons why you might want to go with brand-new ones.
Tire Tips: How to measure tread depth and know when to replace tires
Pros
Photo: Pixabay
Used tires have several advantages over new ones. Their low price is perhaps the most obvious benefit. It can be a good choice if you need just one tire instead of a full set, as The Mechanic Doctor points out. Or if you’re looking for one tire to tide you over until you can afford to buy a full set of brand-new tires for your car.
When you purchase used tires, you also help reduce environmental waste. You’ll have the personal satisfaction of helping lower the number of discarded tires that litter the planet.
Cons
Photo: NIcholas Jackson via Pixabay
On the other hand, there are some solid reasons why you should avoid buying used tires. For starters, they have a significant safety risk. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, worn-out tires increase the chance of tire-related collisions. Tires with a depth of 2/32 inch or lower corresponded to a 26 percent accident rate. By contrast, tires with a deeper tread — a tread depth range of 3/32 to 4/32 inches, to be exact — corresponded to an 8 percent accident rate.
With used tires, you won’t know the tires’ history; you just have to take the seller’s word for it. Even if used tires appear to be in great shape, there’s no way to know what kind of driving conditions the seller put them through, as The Mechanic Doctor shares.
You also won’t know what weather conditions they experienced during storage before the previous owner put them up for sale. For instance, the tires’ internal structure might have damage from exposure to extreme heat if the seller left them outside in the sun.
When buying used tires, you also have to be OK with an uncertain shelf life. Used tires can last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years, as The Mechanic Doctor confirms.
Concluding thoughts
In short, used tires have the benefits of being easier on your wallet and helping reduce rubber waste. But they do have some significant risks that you should understand before you commit to buying them for your vehicle. If you want the confidence that comes from knowing that your tires have the tread depth and longevity that you need to feel safe on the road, then new tires are the better choice.
Check out this article to increase your understanding of tire upkeep. Then find out why you shouldn’t use the penny test to check the tread depth of tires.
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Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.