Used Tire Scams
The second hand tire industry is a booming U.S. market with high profits for wholesalers and retailers. Where there is money to be made, there is a scam around every corner and this includes used tire scams. When digging deeper into accident statistics Safety Research & Strategies found that a significant number of accidents related to “aged” tires that were bought used. They were sold to motorists who thought they were getting tires because the condition visually looked good. In this article I will share with you the most common used tire scams to avoid.
Its unbelievable how dangerous some of these are…
1. Regrooving Used Tires To Look Like New Tires
Tire scam artists will take a bald tire and “recondition” it to look like a brand new tire. This gives the illusion that the tire has tread depth and looks newer with dark black rubber grooves. What they do is cut new grooves into the tread and pull out the old rubber. Then they do the same to the shoulder of the tire to fake the tread width. To a laymens eye, these tires look like they have mileage left on them, when in fact they are death traps.
Never buy used tires from anyone you don’t trust and learn how to properly identify good condition used tires.
2. Painting Tires Black to Look Like New Tires
Some places will actually paint used tires black to give them the appearance that they are new. This makes them more attractive and visually appealing to consumers. By painting the tire it makes you think it is in better condition than it is, hides patches, plus, and punctures, and hides signs of aging rubber.
Even if they don’t paint the tires, they may apply tire shine or even Pledge for furniture to give the used tire a better appearance and shine.
3. Scratching of the DOT Code to Hide the Tires Age
Some scammer will scratch of the DOT number on a tire so that you can’t get the tires actual age. The DOT number is a marking on the tire that shows the week and year the tire was manufactured. According to the NHTSA, you should NEVER buy a tire more than six years old. Tired generally start to lose their flexibility after 3 to 5 years. A tire 7 or more years is definitely degrading and on its way to being unsafe.
When you can’t tell the tires age, you can’t accurately assess what condition the rubber is in. If you see the DOT number scratched off, assume its old and move on.
4. Knock Off Brand Name Tires
Just like any industry where there is high demand and high prices, there are knock off versions of the products. The problem here is that spotting counterfeit tires is really hard, and have only recently been exposed due to consumer reports. Whats even more frustrating is that customers who buy fake tires . Recently some fake Toyo tires were discovered. If you see a manufacturer code of “3E” and the last digits of “12” or more, they are counterfeit.
Knock off tires will also often fail quickly when filled with air, be susceptible to cracking, blistering, and bulging, as well as wavy sidewalls and odd tread wear patterns. It may not even be the fault of the place you are buying from, they may have bought the tires from a scammer. If you think you have bought fake tires contact the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center and file a safety complaint with NHTSA through the safercar.gov website.
5. Disposing of Your Tires Before They Are Worn Out
This is the most common scam that happens every single day. When you take your car in for servicing they tell you that you need new tires when you don’t. You may in fact have more than 50% of your tread left. Then they sell you new tires, charge you a disposal fee for the used tires, and then sell your used tires to someone else. They triple dip on you and you won’t know the wiser unless you know how your tires look and how to assess them. most of the time they tell you that you need knew tires, you car is already up on a lift and they don’t take you back to see the tread wear.
The best question to is how much tread depth is left on my tire (new car tires start around 10/32 of an inch and trucks start between 12 -14/32 of an inch). If they tell you 2/32 of an inch, well that’s legally bald and you should replace. Anything 5/32 and above is still safe for tread depth and you should ask them if anything else is wrong with the tire.
Used Tire Scams Conclusion
The prospect of buying used tires is already a dangerous business, because a tire without group is a death trap. With scammers out there who don’t care about what they sell you, it makes the second hand tire market even more dangerous. When I buy used tires near me, I only deal with places and people I can trust. Watch for the scams above and save yourself money and maybe even your own life. If you are used tire buyer, its helpful to understand some tire basics. So many people opt for cheap used tires, when you should only opt for safe used tires.