Bridgestone is a Japanese tire manufacturer is the largest tire manufacturer in the world. They sell tires for many types of vehicles. Retail prices on these tires are on the high end given the fact they are a premium tire with high UTQG ratings, which mean they should last long. So finding used Bridgestone tires with some good tread left on them can save you a lot of money and get you plenty of tire life. Below I’ll discuss where to find used Bridgestone tires, the pros and cons, and my experience purchasing used Bridgestone tires near me.
Used Bridgestone Tires Near Me – Use the Locator Below
If you need “Used Bridgestone Tires Near Me”, see the map below for locations…
Alternatively, plenty of online used tire stores will carry the Bridgestone brand. To read more about getting used Bridgestone’s locally read on…
Who Sells Used Bridgestone Tires Near Me
With Bridgestone being the largest tire manufacturer globally and producing some tires in the US you can find them used in many places. You can also find used Firestone tires which is another brand owned by Bridgestone. Businesses like local used tire places, retread shops, wholesale used tire companies, and vehicle junkyards will likely have some in stock. Additionally you can find private sellers either in the newspaper or who post local classifieds online. Then there are also companies that sell them online and ship them to you.
Who you choose to buy used tires from is important and each of these sellers above has their pros and cons. A private owner may offer you the best deal, but you have to consider how much you trust a private seller. A salvage yard will have the cheapest used Bridgestone’s, but the quality will be lower and good luck finding a set of 4 or even a pair. Then online sellers can have good quality and good prices, but some charge for shipping.
Buying Used Bridgestone Tires Locally vs Online
I am more of a hands on let me visually inspect and feel the tire kind of person. I have ordered plenty of tires online, but it’s a roll of the dice as to how many repairs the tire may have and how well it was done. There are good used tire companies online that I like, but for me I much rather roll the tire, check for patches and repairs outside of the tread, and feel the sidewall for blemishes. The added benefit of buying used tires in person is you can haggle the price a little, you will have no such luck online. If you go the local route, keep in mind some shops aren’t open on the weekends.
Ordering online does have it’s benefits. Super easy to find matching tires, the tread measurements are already done, and you can search by tire brand, vehicle manufacturer, etc. Also some places offer same day free shipping, Considering the cost of mailing some heavy tires it’s a great perk. You will still need to get them installed and mounted, which will cost you more money. In many cases if you buy them locally you can work out a better deal on the mounting and installation.
How Much Do They Cost
Used Bridgestone tires near me are about 30% to 55% off the original retail price. There truly is no standard pricing on the used tire market because many factors affect the price. Prices will fluctuate by the model of Bridgestone you are looking at tread depth, quality of the tire, and the size. Truck tires for example are going to be more expensive. The way to save is to purchase more then one tire. Most places will offer multi-tire discounts. If you are looking run flats, they are available just often still pretty expensive even used.
Second hand tire prices in general range from seller to seller. I’ve seen Bridgestone Potenza’s between $60 and $120 for just one used tire. Below I have posted examples of some of the top manufacturers of tires. You can see what you could pay and save for Turanza’s on a set of 4 which I have highlighted…
How Much Mileage Can I Expect
Mileage on any used tire is going to vary based on tread depth remaining and how you drive. You can do some math to calculate how much mile you “should” get. Take the current tread depth measurement as a percentage of the original manufacturers tread depth. Then take that percentage and multiple it against the mileage the manufacturer estimated the tire would do. That will give you an estimate on how much mileage remains on the tire.
Used Bridgestone Tires Pro and Cons
Bridgestone is the largest manufacturer of tires globally. They sit in front of Michelin, Goodyear, and Continental. They are used in passenger vehicles, trucks, airplanes, motorcycles, race cars, etc. Bridgestone is a trusted brand with a huge R&D department. Many of their tires have high UTQG ratings which is a grading of how long a tire will last.
Buying second hand Bridgestone’s will be cheaper then purchasing them new. Obviously saving money is the primary driver for anyone buying tires used. Reasons to buy a second hand tire also include replacing tires at the end of a lease or the need to replace just one tire. I am not a proponent of only replacing one tire, but if you need to then used is an option. Also good for a spare. Regardless of your reason used tires are only worth the cost saving if you can find them with good tread depth and they pass a safety check.
Not everything is great though about used tires though. They won;t last as long as new, they may have patches and repairs, and there are few government regulations to protect you as a consumer.
The Dangers of Second Hand Tires
No matter what brand of used tire you are considering it must be inspected for safety. Sometimes used tires are cheap for a reason. The three factors I consider the most when evaluating a tire are: Is it the right size, how old is it, how much tread depth remains. Never put a tire on your vehicle that doesn’t meet the size and load capacity requirements. The tire age is important because of how chemical compounds start to break down in the rubber after 6 years. Tread depth is not only an indication of mileage, but how well the tire grabs when you try and stop.
For any used tire you are considering look for defects and punctures. You want to make sure there are no repairs on the sidewall and that any patch or plug was done along the tread. I like to inspect the inside of the tires for patches to see what kind of work was done and if it looks like a quality patch.
Lastly I also consider who is selling me the tire. I don;t buy from anyone I don’t trust. It is a buyer beware market and most states don;t have regulations to prevent someone from selling you a dangerous product. For more tips click here.
What to Consider When Buying Used Bridgestone Tires
The size MUST meet the minimum requirements for your vehicle. All of your tires on your vehicle should be the same size as well. The load capacity rating must be equal or greater then your vehicle requires.
Getting The Right Size
For the correct size you can reference the owners manual or the sticker on the door jam of your drivers side door. These will not only show the correct size tire, but your vehicles required minimum load rating. If you are just buying one tire, you can also check the sidewall code on the other tires for your vehicle.
If you have the size and load capacity figured out, next you need to check to make sure it is safe to drive on.
Inspect for Quality
Inspecting a tire doesn’t have to be complicated. You are checking for a few obvious signs of issues and a few subtle indicators. You need to do a few basics like visually inspect it and feel around it with your hand for abnormalities. Here is some guidance:
- Tread depth – Look for 4/32 of an inch or more (preferably a lot more)
- Roll the tire back and forth – Does It should roll straight? Does it look stable? Does it wobble?
- Feel the Sidewall with your palm – See if there is any waviness around the circumference
- Check the Date of Tire (DOT)- If the tire was created more then 6 years ago, don’t buy it.
- Defects and Punctures Inspection – Look for anything strange about the rubber or where someone may have tried a quick repair.
Doing your own inspection helps eliminate the need to trust someone else’s opinion.
I do want to note here though the importance of tire age. If you come across a brand new tire, never driven on that’s 6 or more years old. Don’t buy it. I don’t care how cheap it is either.
Maintain Regular Maintenance After Purchase
If you purchase a good set of used Bridgestone’s you will need to get them mounted and installed. After that I would keep with good car and tire maintenance such as:
- Suspension alignments
- Tire rotation
- Tire balancing
- Regular air pressure checks
You can check out some of my favorite tire tools here,
Used Bridgestone Tires Near Me – Conclusion
Bridgestone’s are a premium brand and if you can get a good set used, go for it. You will save significantly compared to new Bridgestone’s and get almost all of the benefits of the safe and smooth ride they are known for. Most importantly though never choose price over safety. If the deal looks to good to be true, it probably is. Properly evaluate the tires carefully and consider the key factors like size, load capacity, tread depth, and tire age. That is my experience buying used Bridgestone tires near me.