At long last, it’s time for you to replace your old tires. Do you have to buy brand new ones or should you save some money and buy used ones? Are used tires safe to drive on? Are they legal to drive on? Below is a quick guide to buying new tires vs. used tires for your vehicle.
New Tires vs Used Tires, Which to Choose?
The benefits of buying new tires are obvious. You can trust that they are in good condition, they’re safe to drive on, and many come with a warranty. The trouble of course is that new tires are expensive. Adding to the cost of the tires you have to pay to get them installed and mounted.
However, used tires are… well, they’re used. That means they may come with defects, tread wear, or punctures. Worse, this kind of damage can sometimes be difficult to see.
You do not have any legal protection from an unsafe tire and the seller is not legally responsible if anything happens. Still though, companies like Discount Tire, have opted to no longer sell used tires due to the potential risks. Companies like Walmart, Costco, .BJ’s and other large retailers have never sold used tires as a policy.
Many people have purchased used tires and enjoyed a safe, cheap ride for a few thousand miles. In fact almost 30 million used tires are sold each year. That makes up 10% of the entire tire market in the US. It’s definitely possible to buy good, used tires, but you should know how to properly assess them for safety.
There are a few basic tests you can do to make sure the tires are safe…
New Tires vs Used Tires | The Pros and Cons of Each
New Tire Pros and Cons
The Pros of Buying New Tires
- Perfect tread and traction
- Guaranteed safety
- Better gas mileage
- Warranty
The Cons of Buying New Tires
- They’re expensive
- Tire production and disposal is not environmentally friendly
- It can sometimes be difficult to buy just one new tire at a time. Many auto repair shops will try to get you to purchase at least two tires at a time, if not all four.
Used Tire Pros and Cons
The Pros of Buying Used Tires
- They’re cheap
- Buying used tires reduces waste and environmental hazards
- You can buy as many (or as few) as you like, without having to worry about being pressured into buying a full set if you don’t need one.
- Ideal if you need to replace tires on a lease before you return it.
The Cons of Buying Used Tires
- No matter what, if a tire is used, that means there’s already been some wear on the treads. Because of tread wear and aging, it’s recommended that new tires be replaced more frequently.
- It’s absolutely not advisable to take the word of the seller that used tires are in safe driving condition. If you’re purchasing your tires online, it can be difficult to determine for yourself whether or not the tires you’re purchasing really are safe.
- Even if the person you’re buying from has kept good records, it’s impossible to know what kind of stress, wear, and/or damage has been done to a used tire. If the tires are in safe condition now, past stresses can turn into problems in the near future. More frustratingly, you can’t take legal action if used tires you purchased six months ago suddenly develop problems that make them unsafe. The seller is only responsible for ensuring that the tires are safe to drive on at the time of sale. There are no warranties on used tires.
- It can be difficult to find used tires with a similar tread pattern to the ones you already have.
With either option you decide, it is most important to not wait to replace a tire when it is either damaged or bald. Driving on a tire with no to little tread increases you stopping distances and can be more dangerous in rain and snow.
Are Used Tires Safe?
They can be. It really depends on the individual tire itself. The main concern when buying new tires is not whether or not “used” tires are safe, but whether or not the particular tires that you are considering installing on your vehicle are safe.
There are basic tests you can do when purchasing used tires to check for common problems…
One thing you should always do is test the tread depth. This can be really easily done with a penny. Simply insert the coin into one of the tire’s grooves (if you’re using a penny, make sure to insert the coin with Lincoln’s head facing down). If you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head you can still be seen above the tread, then the tires are too worn down to be safely driven on.
The other thing you should do is check the. You can look at the tires DOT, which is like it’s born on date. Never buy a tire that is six years old or older.
Other Safety Tests for Used Tires
Exposed cords are a big indicator that used tires are unsafe. If you can see the braided steel cords inside the tire (even if it’s just a few poking out) the tire is not safe.
Another thing you should do when purchasing new tires is inspect the sidewall and tread surface for bumps, waves, or bulges of any kind. These deformities can sometimes cause the tire’s rubber surface to delaminate from the steel belts inside. Even if you can’t prove that this has happened, it’s an incredibly unsafe risk to take.
At the place where the tires is connected to the wheel, you will find two thick rubber rings. These rings are the tire’s beads, and they must be in perfect condition in order for the tire to be safe. Look especially for any chunks of rubber missing from the beads, or other structural damage that might cause the beads to have separated from the wheel.
Two Scenarios When Used Tires Make Sense
There are two scenarios when getting used tires makes sense over new ones. The first is if you have to replace a tire on a leased vehicle and the lease is ending. Why spend the money on a new tire when you are just going to return the vehicle.
The second scenario is when you have to replace just one tire. Here you can find a similar size and tread pattern with similar wear to your other three tires.
New Tires vs Used Tires Conclusion
It really depends on your situation to determine whether new tires vs used tires is right for you. For some folks getting a spare tire used is a good way to save money. The same rules apply, but remeber a spare tire needs to be absolutley reliable in the event of a roadside emergency. Cost tends to be the biggest factor for most people when trying to decide. No matter what the cost in my opinion safety should be the first consideration. If you are purchasing used tires, from a trusted vendor, and the tires are in good shape with tread depth, you should be fine.