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 I Find Free Used Tires Near Me
Free second hand tires may seem hard to come by, but they are actually not. Here are some of my favorite sources:
- The Next Door App – “For Sale and Free” section
- Craigslist – Just search for “Free Tires” and put up a wanted ad
- Freecycle – Search for Free Tires or put up a wanted ad
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 trusting the seller. These tires are free for a reason.
Alternatives
Depending on your reason for needing tires for free, you can consider looking at two alternatives. You can check for:
- Cheap used tires near me
- SellMyTires – and look for inexpensive tires
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.
What to Do With Used Tires
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.
Practice Drifting With Free Tires
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…
Where to Get Free Used Tires…Final Thoughts
Regardless 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.