Can I sell my used tires? The anser is yes, but there are certain criteria that the tire should meet. In order for a used tire to have value it must be usuable and have mileage left in it. In the article below we will discuss the basics of what gives a used tire value and how much you can get for them. We will also address used tires that likely won’t sell and what you should do with them.

I Want to Sell My Used Tires, Do They Have Any Value?

Let’s talk about what makes a tire have value to a secondary consumer. Here are the factors that you can use to determine if your used tire is resellable.

There is Enough Tread Depth on the Tire

How much mileage you will get out of a tire is determined by the tread depth. According to consumer reprts a tire with 2/32 of tread depth is considered legally bald. Even still, a tire with 3/32 to 4/32 tread depth will be hard to resell. Although 4/32 on a 13-14 inch tire may be ok.

Anything in the 6/32 to 8/32 would be considered good condition and resellable. You can tread depth gauge to measure your tires or alternatively you can use a penny to esitmate.

The Tire is Less then 6 Years Old

A tire less then 6 years old will have a lot of life left in it. Typically is recommended not to purchase tires older then 6 years, but they are safe to drive on up to 10 years.

The reason being is that the rubber compound that tires are made from starts to chemically break down and becomes unstable. This leads to dry rot which makes the tire weak.

You can find your tires age by looking at the DOT numbers on your sidewall…

There are No Patches or Plugs

Technically you can sell a tire with a patch or plug in it, but it depends on how well the repair was done. A plug is considered a temporary fix, while a patch is considered more longer lasting. The best repair is a plug with a ptach that has been properly vulcanized.

I have sold my used tires before with repairs I did myself, but they certainly go for less, because they are considered less reliable.

The Tires Overall Condition and Health

Aside from tread depth, tires need to pass a general health check before you resell them. When I inspect a pair of used tires as a secondary consumer I am checking for the following:

• Tread Depth – 2/32 of an inch and below is bald by law
• Exposed Chords – There shouldn’t be any metal chords showing through the rubber on the tread or sidewall
• Chunking Beads – Look for chunks of rubber missing around the bead
• Separated Belts – Use your hand to feel for waviness in the sidewalls
• Aging – I never buy tires over six years old
• Improper Repairs – Punctures, plugs, patches are all potential safety issues
• Linear Damage – Examine inside the inner for metal wires poking out
• Uneven Wear on the inside, outside, or middle of the tire due to improper inflation.

Factors That Impact How Much You Can Sell Used Tires For…

The Tires Brand

If you are selling a top tier brand, you can often get more for the tire. The prestige of the manufacturer will help establish a higher value in the consumers perception. Top brands are considered to be manufacturers such as: Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Perelli, and Goodyear. Less popular brands would be like BF Goodrich, Cooper, Uniroyal, and General.

Some manufacturers sell well on the second hand market despite the fact they don’t make top tier tires. These include Hankook, Falken, Yokohomo, and Dunlop.

Of course you can sell an off brand used tire. I’m simply pointing out that name brands will drive higher sale prices.

The Original Price

The higher the original price of the tire, the more money it is worth on the secondary tire market. If all other factors are in play such as good tread depth, age, and a healthy condition, then the original price will help drive up the secondary sale price.

Here is a basic idea of origial prices and the amount the tires sell for on the used tire market:

Even cheap used tires, can be resold. If they are in good condition, within the age range and have tread depth remaining, you can certainly sell them. The original price of the tire will impact the amount of money you can fetch from a seller though. For example a $60 original price Uniroyal tire is not going to get much more then $25 on the second hand market. Where is a $225 Bridestone tire, might go for $90 sold second hand.

Who Buys Used Tires?

There are actually lots of people in the market for used tires. With the economy the way it is, the used tire market is booming for sellers. There are many people looking on Criagslist, FB Marketplace, and Ebay Motors in hopes of finding tires for sale by owner.

To sell them, you must first determine if you have tires that are sellable on the secondary market. That means they are in good enough condition and safe enough for someone to drive on.

Now you need to find a buyer of used tires. There are a few options such as websites, used tire shops, junkyards, retread shops, and classified sites that let you list them for sale. You can view our list here of ways to get cash for used tires.

When Is It Better to Get Rid of a Tire, Istead of Reselling It?

Pretty much it’s the opposite of all the reasons I listed above. Low tread depth, condition issues like repairs, damage and uneven wear, and the tires age. Tires that don’t meet the minimum requirements would be dangerous to sell second hand. For example if you sold a bald tire to someone, they could have an accident due to the correlation between tread wear and length of braking distance.

If I Can’t Sell My Tires, How Can I Get Rid Of Them?

Tires can be tricky to dispose of. Not all landfills take them (it depends on the state) and you certainly can’t bury them or put them on the curb. What you need to do is take them to a recycling facility. There they will be properly disposed of and turned into new goods like rubber multch, ballistic targets, and rubber matts.

Can I Sell My Used Tires – Conclusion

If you have a set of used tires and it meets all the criteria such as depth, condition, and age, you certainly can get money for them. Even unpopular brands have value on the secondary tire market. You should make an honest assessment of the tire before you decide to sell them. Selling someone tires you know are unsafe is irresponsible and you could be held legally liable if something was to happen.