There is no better way to save money on your truck then getting used tires. There are various types of places that you can get used truck tires locally, but its important to understand what constitutes a safe tire. Below I will cover where to buy used truck tires near me, choosing the right tire for your vehicle, new vs used tires, and some general info on buying used truck tires.
Map of Used Truck Tires Near Me
If you are looking for “Used Truck Tires Near Me”, see the map below for locations…
Who Sells Used Truck Tires Near Me
There are various business types that sell second hand tires for automobiles. These include tire salvage yards, Truck junkyards, tire repair shops, re-treaders, wholesale used tire suppliers, and online used tire retailers. Each of these places has there pros and cons. For example a tire salvage yard will have the largest inventory, the cheapest price, but the lowest quality and huge stacks of tires to sort through. An online retailer will have the higher priced tires, but higher quality condition and easier to sort through inventory.
To find who sells used Truck tires near me, you can check Google and Yelp, to get a variety of places that sell them locally. A word of caution is that you should never buy second hand tires from someone you don’t trust.
Buying Used Truck Tires Locally vs Buying Online
I’m always partial to buy used truck tires at my local shops, then ordering online. Getting them in person allows you the ability to accurately grade the tire yourself. Sometimes you also run into a helpful sales clerk who can find a matching set, inspect the tire with you, and negotiate price. Don’t depend on a helpful sales person, especially if you are getting truck tires at your local salvage yard. The key benefit to getting used truck tires in your area is assessing the tire yourself. To do so you should first understand some tire basics.
You can find used truck tires online, which at many sites good condition truck tires will be available. Sometimes though these companies misrepresent the condition of the tire especially when it comes to tread wear. If you are ordering used truck tires online read reviews and testimonials before placing your order. There is only one place I recommend considering for getting used tires online.
How Much Do They Cost
You can get used truck tires for anywhere between 30% to 55% off the original retail price. The price you pay is determined by the brand, the age, the tread depth, the condition, the original price, and how many tires you are getting. It’s hard to say the cost when it depends on what kind of truck tire you are getting.
You can get used tires for pick up trucks, lite, medium, and heavy duty trucks, or semi trucks, which all are priced a bit different do to sizes and retreads. You can even use truck tires on your RV instead of 670’s or XRV’s.
There is no universal standard for pricing used tires and so prices really vary. I have found used truck tires near me for my pick up for between $45 and $180 for a single tire. If you are going bigger like a Semi truck or trailer tire or RV tire, you should expect to be in the $300+ range since those tires have higher sticker prices new. When you buy used, you should also be prepared for a separate cost of mounting and installation.
How Much Mileage Will I Get
The mileage on any tire new or used is contingent on how you drive, so you can’t say with certainty how many miles you will get. What you can do though is measure the tread depth and compare it to the original manufacturers tread depth to see what percentage is left. Then take that percentage and apply it to the amount of miles the manufacturer predicted the tire should last.
New vs Used
When considering new vs used, you must consider the benefits and risks.
New tires on your truck have many benefits. These include a warranty, a full tread, and all of the grip that the tire can provide. All these great perks though come at a premium price. New tires are expensive and even more so if you are looking at popular brands. You should purchase new tires for your truck if you can afford them, you are buying a set of 4, or you put a high value on safety.
Second hand truck tires on the flip side are cheap. The downside is there is no warranty, there is already tread depth diminished, and not many government safety regulations to protect you as a consumer. You should get truck tires used if you need to save money, your truck is at the end of a lease, or you are replacing once tire. Saving money on a used truck tire is only worth it, if you can find them in good condition.
The Dangers of Second Hand Tires
Used tires have many potential dangers that you should be aware of. Low tread for example affects your ability to bring the car to a stop quickly. Additionally it will cause sliding and/or hydroplaning in wet conditions.
Then there is the potential of structural issues like defects, punctures, plugs, and patches. All of these affect the stability and the ability to provide a smooth ride. There can be a lot wrong with a tire like feathering and cupping, which can be hard to detect if you don’t know what to look for. You also have no idea who did the tire repair.
If you find a good set of used run flat tires, you should only put them on your truck if it has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Without a TPMS the tire will look inflated even with no pressure. These can cause a situtation where you overheat and lose control.
The reason for the potential of buying unsafe tires is that there is little to no regulation in the collection, inspection, and returns. This includes lack of regulations commercial and privately owner vehicles. A lot of these people who sell used truck tires in your area, may not care if they sell you an unsafe product. Some of these places are actually running used tire scams that you need to be aware of. My best advise is to get educated, know what to look for, and take your time inspecting each tire you are considering buying. Even cheap second hand tires need to be safe.
What to Consider When Buying Used Truck Tires
First you should ensure that you actually need to change your tires. You should inspect the tires you have to ensure you need new tires first. If you need replacements…
Before you inspect a used truck tire for safety, the first thing you need to do is check if its the correct size. You should never put a tire on your truck that doesn’t meet the minimum size and load bearing requirements for your truck.
How to Choose the Right Size for Your Truck
To figure out what size you need you can check your owners manual or the inside door panel on your truck. Then you need to check the alpha numeric code on the tires sidewall to make sure the minimum specs are meet.
It sidewall will have a code like this:
LT190/60R16 63H M+S
- LT – Type of tire (in this case “LT” for Lite Truck)
- 245 – Width of the tire measured across the tread in millimeters (mm)
- 45 – Aspect ratio of the sidewall as compared against the tire width
- R – Radial construction (aka radial-ply)
- 19 – Diameter of the rim in inches (in)
- 90 – Tire’s load rating
- H – Tire’s speed rating
- M+S – Tire is suitable for all-season driving
Depending on your kind of truck or SUV it may be able to take “P” or “LT” tires. P stands for passenger vehicle, while LT is for Lite truck. If you are only getting one tire for your truck, check to see what the tire type is on the other 3 you have on the vehicle. The load rating of the tire is of the utmost importance. It signifies the load that just that one tire can handle. Never put a tire on your truck that doesn’t meet the manufacturers recommended load rating.
Once you have your truck tire size correct, now you have to examine the condition of the used tires. The condition of the tire will determine its overall traction and safety.
How to Assess a Tires Quality
Understanding what makes a good condition tire and what is poor is critical to second hand tire shopping. While tread depth is often the main concern, so is aging. I wouldn’t buy an old tire (more than six years old) even if it had great tread depth. Rubber starts to rot after six years. Use the info below and trust your own judgment. Assume that your local tire guy or salvage will sell you anything and they don;t care about laws or your safety.
Here are the main things to consider when inspecting a second hand tire:
- 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 – Never buy tires over six years old, check the TIN
- Improper Repairs – Punctures, plugs, patches are all potential safety issues
- Linear Damage – Examine inside the inner for metal wires poking out
For more in depth inspection tips and explanations, read here.
After You Purchase Second Hand Truck Tires
Any time you purchase second hand tires for your truck you should do a monthly inspection of them for 4 to 6 months. This is to ensure the tire is safe for your vehicle and it is holding up structurally as expected. I more or less do a visual inspection of the tread and the sidewall just to make sure what I bought is actually safe. I also check the air pressure, tread depth, and inspect for punctures. If it needs air I add it and continue to monitor how well it holds the PSI.
Its also important to keep up with good practices like the rotation, balancing, and alignment.
Who Buys Used Truck Tires Near Me
Many places that sell used truck tires will also buy them. This often can get you a trade in value…trade in used tires and get better used tires. The price you fetch for your tires will vary from place to place. Their offer will depend on brand, tire age, original price, and tread depth. At the used truck tire near me, I’ve gotten $30 to $80 per tire.
Locations that will buy used truck tires from you include local tire shops, repair shops, re-treaders, wholesale used tire discount stores, private owners, and auto salvages.
Places that will buy your used Truck tires include local tire repair shops, re-treaders, wholesale used tire dealers, private owners, and junkyards. In my experience junkyards will offer the lowest price and your local tire repair will pay you the most. My local tire repair near me is very critical though of what they will purchase, your truck tires better be in decent condition.
Used Truck Tires Near Me – Conclusion
Saving money on used truck tires is obviously the primary benefit, but you must consider safety. There are other secondary benefits like recycling rubber and using them in situations like being at the end of a lease. Before you buy used tires for your truck know how to evaluate them for size and condition. Also remember that these people will sell you an unsafe tire, know how to check the safety yourself. That’s what I have learned from buying used truck tires near me.