Bicycle tires are an important part of a safe and comfortable ride. Well getting them second hand is a big money saver, it can’t be at the sacrifice of your safety. A bicycle just has two points of contact with the road so size, shape, compound, and condition are critical. Below I will discuss buying used bicycle tires, how to properly choose the right kind, and my experience with buying used bicycle tires near me.
Used Bicycle Tires Near Me – Use the Locator Below
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Who Sells Used Bicycle Tires and Tubes
Second hand bicycle tires and tubes are not as prevalent on the market as used car, truck, and motorcycle tires. You can still find them though if you know where to look. In my experience used tire shops, don’t carry them. So where do you look?
The best places that I find used bicycle tires near me are bicycle salvage yards, bike shops, craigslist, and other apps like LetGo and the neighborhood app. If you are looking at your local options, never buy second hand bicycle tires from someone you don’t trust. You really need to vet them and ask a lot of questions before you purchase a second hand pair.
If you look online you can find them on Ebay and there are used bike tire shops as well. Same rules apply though. Never buy from someone you don’t trust.
Buying Used Locally vs Buying Them Online
I prefer buying locally to buying online. When you make a local purchase you can visually inspect the tires and/or tubes. You can put your hands on the rubber and feel for imperfections and issues. You can visually inspect the tread and the inner liner.
Buying them online doesn’t allow you that option. You are trusting what the person tells you about the condition of the tire. Now if you find a used tire shop for bicycles online, that’s a different story if they have reviews. Read the reviews and see what people say. You want to make sure that the condition of the tires they advertise is actually the condition there customers receive. Some places may mis-repesent the condition and age of the tire.
The Dangers of Used Bike Tires
Used bike tires are dangerous, regardless of the application. I don’t care if they are for an old school 10 speed or a new mountain bike. There are risks in buying used. The risks in my opinion are not worth it!
Used tires for bicycles have lower traction and you only have only two very thin contact points with the ground. This means reduced traction. It can mean the difference between going off a mountain or sliding out into traffic.
Used bicycle tires have other issues like repairs and worn sidewalls all which reduce the ability to provide a stable ride. If you aren’t that familiar with how bicycle tires wear out over time, many of these issues you will miss if you don’t have a lot of experience.
In my honest opinion, getting a used tire for any kind of bicycle is risky. I know that the prices are alluring, but the risk is to high compared to the cost savings.
What to Consider When Buying Used
Most Cyclists will think price first. I recommend you think safety first.
How to Assess a Used Tires Quality
Tread depth is important, but not the only consideration you need to assess. For example, never buy a bicycle tire that is more then 5 years old. The chemical compounds used in the rubber begin to break down and starts rotting. This makes the tire unstable and unsafe.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Tread Depth
- Aging (Never buy a tire more then 5 years old), look for aging signs like cracked rubber
- Improper Repairs
- Inside Liner Damage
- Tube Damage
- Look for uneven tread wear
- Hashtag like patterns on the sidewall
- Wear Indicators showing
- Small cuts or clits
If the tire needs a tube, which is common on spoke rims, replace the tubes and the tires at the same exact time. As time passes, tubes stretch out and can crease when you do a tire change. If you have a tube get the same size on the tire markings for compatibility.
When to Replace Your Tires
It’s important that you replace your bike tires when they need it. Like shoes, car tires, and other products that get a lot of wear, your bicycle tires won’t be able to perform at their best when they are worn out. If you leave them for too long, they could even become unsafe and cause accidents and injuries, as well as more expensive damage to your bike.
Some of the signs that your tires need replacing that you should watch out for include:
- Frequent flat tires, or a regular noticeable reduction in pressure
- Tire treads noticeably worn down
- Poor handling, or an obvious drag to one side
- Rounded and uneven treads all around the tire, or just at the edges
- A pattern like hashtags present on the sides of your tires
- Cracked rubber that might be flaking away from the tire
- Distortion of the tire
- Tiny slits around the tire, which might be particularly noticeable in wet weather, when they may cause poor grip
- Small cuts which contain grass or debris
- If you have wear indicators, they may be disappearing
Choosing the Right Size
It’s important that you get the right size tire for your bike. This is typically written on the sidewall of your current tire and should be easy to find. Some tires will show just one number; others may show two or even three. As long as the new tire that you select matches one of these numbers, it will fit on your bike.
For example, you may see 29”x 2.3”. This means that your tire has a diameter of 29 inches and a width of 2.3 inches. This size is fairly typical on a mountain bike. If you ride a road bike, you can expect to see the measurement in millimeters, perhaps 700x25c.
The new international standard tire measurement is starting to be used more frequently. In this standard, you might see 25×622, with the 622 referring to the measurement of the inside of the tire, instead of the 700mm diameter of the outside.
What Width Do You Need?
The diameter of the new tire should be an exact match for your bike. But you have more options when it comes to width, and your choice will depend on how you use your bicycle.
If you often ride on snow, sand or other challenging terrains, then you might opt for a fat or plus size tire. These offer excellent grip wherever you are riding.
On the other hand, racing bikes usually have the thinnest tires with widths of between 23-25mm. Bikes for long distances, such as cross-country riding, or commenting, are often somewhere in the middle. Get advice for your specific bike and needs before choosing a width.
High-End Brands vs More Affordable Options
Tires, like everything else, come in a range of price points. High-end brands charge a lot more than small brands and other budget options. While higher-end brands often offer more luxury, and hard wearing options, how much you choose to spend should depend on your budget, your needs, and how much use your bike is going to get.
If you are considering going with a used bicycle tire, then the higher end options are a much better choice. Higher end brands have better R&D budgets which means better technology in the tires. Still I would buy a new pair of no name brand tires, before I bough used name brand tires.
Who Buys Used Bicycle Tires Near Me
In my experience at least with bicycle shops and salvages they will often buy used bicycle tires. The amount you can get for used bicycle tires is going to vary greatly depending on the brand, condition, rubber compound, tread, and age of the tire. You are not going to get much money though, max maybe $15-20 for a pair. If you are exchanging them at a bike shop for new tires, you may get a bit more.
The best way to get the most return on them though is selling them independently. using Craigslist, Ebay, or other sites. Bike shops and salvages need to make a profit, which means they need to get them cheap so they can resell them. When you sell your used bicycle tires, you can charge what you want and cut out the middle man.
Used Bicycle Tires Near Me Conclusion
I actually don’t recommend purchasing second hand bicycle tires. The safety risk is too great. The only good you are doing when buying used, is that you are saving the environment. Buying used tires supports the recycling process…that I am down with. Even considering that, the safety risk is high and being there is only two thin traction points between you and the ground, i say opt for new tires. That’s what I have learned from buying used bicycle tires near me.