Getting used winter tires is a good way to save money. Since these aren’t all season tires you can actually stretch them over a few seasons by changing them out. You do need to be minful though of treadwear and tire age though. In this article I will discuss who sells used winter tires, the ins and outs of buying used, and the best time to buy them. I will also share my experience with the place that sells used winter tires near me.
Map of Used Winter Tires Near Me
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Who Sells Used Winter Tires Near Me
Whether you are looking for used tires for a car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or any other vehicle you have a handful of choices. Each seller has their pros and cons. Businesses that sell used winter tires include junkyards, local used tire shops, wholesale used tire shops, retreaders, and online used tire retailers. As an example an online used tire seller will have higher quality winter tires and they will inspect each tire before it’s sold. The trade off though is these used tires can be more expnsive then other options.
No matter where you decide to purchase used winter tires, you should never buy them from a place that you don’t trust. The second hand tire market lacks givernment regulation. That means nothing is stopping them from selling you an unsafe tire. That becomes even more critical for a seasonal winter tire that you need to be able to trust that it will grip on ice and snow.
Buying Used Winter Tires Locally vs Buying Them Online
In my experience buying used winter tires near me, I prefer in person used tire purchasing over online transactions. I want to inspect the tire myself. I have ordered enough used tires online to know that some times they say a tire is better then it actually is.
Going in person ou can also often find a helpful shop attendant at a tire shop. These folks can not only point you to the winter tire section, but look at the tires with you to assess the condition. They also tend to be knowledgable about the tire manufacturers, reading the sidewall, and making sure you get the right size. Now if you were going to get second hand winter tires at a salvage, then you may not have such help. Still though you can thoroughly inspect the tires yourself.
Buying winter tires second hand online isn’t terrible either, so long as the site has good reviews. You are trusting these folks to properly assess the tires safety and tread wear, then setting a fair price on that. You can find used winter tires with up to 60% of the tread life left, but expect to pay a little more then you would buying them locally.
How Much Should I Pay for Used Winter Tires?
When you compare used tire prices to retail, you should see prices 30% to 50% less. Factors that impact the price are the brand, condition, quality, and age. You may also find additional discounts for buying in bulk. For example some shops offer buy 3 get 1 free. You will find though when buying used getting a matched set can be difficult.
Since there is no regulation on the secondary tire market, that also means there is no standard unit for pricing. One shop will charge different than another for the same used tire in the same exact condition. A place that inspects used tires before they sell them tend to charge a little bit more. Since they add in an upfront labor cost for the inspection. On avaerage for a passenger car seasonal winter tire you can find anything from $25 to $150 for a single tire. While that range is large consider the difference between a uniroyal with 4/32 tread and a Bridgestone with 9/32 left.
To consider total cost when you buy used tires you also need to considerinstallation and mounting costs.
How Many Miles Should I Expect From Them?
Mileage on any tire used or new has to many variables to properly predict. Your driving habots, the terrain, the brand, and how much tread was on the tire when you purchased it all are factors. If you got a used tire with 60% tread life left you should have a lot of miles left in it.
There are ways to actually calculate the mileage though if you really need to know. To calculate the mileage remaining you need to get the original tread depth from the manufacturers website and the estimated mileage. Next measure the depth remaining on the tire. Then use that as a percentage of the original depth and multiple the percentage against the mileage prediction from the manufacturer.
The Risks of Buying Used Tires
No matter if you are buying a touring, seasonal, or all season tire, you need to understand the differences and the risks of buying used. Just becuase a used tire has plenty of tread on it, doesn’t make it safe. There could be shotty repairs on it, chords sticking out, or it could have dry rot. There could also be subtle signs or irregualr wear and tear that will impact your ability to grip the road.
What is important to know is that there is little regulation in the second hand tire market. Nothing is technically stopping someone from selling you a bald tire. This is why it’s critical to inspect teh tires with your own eyes. There are many scams on the seoncd hand market including painting tires black to make them look new and cover damage or dry rot.
When is The Best Time to Buy Used Winter Tires?
In my experience it is best to get used winter tires in the off season,. Used tire shops typically take in used winter tires in the spring. If you want the best choices of inventory shop in the spring. If you want to save money shop in the summer where you may have more negotiation leverage on the price.
Shopping for used winter tires in the winter season is typically slim pickings. Most of them are sold out and more are not coming in until the spring. Also buying them during the winter may lead to slightly higher prices. Thats what the place who sells used winter tires near me does.
What to Consider When Buying Used Car Tires
The rule we teach here is NEVER comprimise safety for a good price. No matter what no low cost is worth accident or you life.
How to Assess a Second Hand WInter Tires Quality
Knowing how to inspect a used tire is important. Not only can it ensure you buy a safe tire, but can also make you a better price negotiater. Most folks think tread depth is the only thing they need to consider. I would argue age is just as important. A 10 year old tire with 100% tread depth should not be purchased.
The main things to consider for inspecting a winter tire:
- Tread Depth – 2/32 of an inch and below is legally bald, don’t buy anything less then 4/32.
- Exposed Chords – No metal wires should be puching out of the rubber anywhere.
- Chunking Beads – If the bead is chunking up, the tire will have trouble holding air.
- Separated Belts – Lay the tire on thr ground and rub your hand over the sidewall. If it feels wavy don’t purchase it.
- Aging – Check the Tire Identification Number, never buy tires over six years old
- Improper Repairs – Inspect the tire for any repairs. Plugs and patches are ok if they were vulcanized correctly.
- Linear Damage – Inspect the inside the inner liner for metal poking through the rubber.
After You Buy Used Winter Tires…
When you get used winter tires, you should inspect them periodically. I would inspect them once every two weeks for the first two months until you know they can be trusted. You want to make sure the tire is structurally intact and hiolding up well under the pressure and winter road conditions. A visual inspectin and a PSI check is enough to ensure you are safe, Aside from that routine maintenance like rotation, alignment, and balancing is needed.
Used Winter Tires Near Me Conclusion
The main reason we buy used tires is to save money. It makes a lot of sense for winter tires since we only use them a few months out of the year, It is critically important though that you change them at the end of the season. Also when buying any tire used that you do a thorough inspection. That’s what I have learned from buying used winter tires near me.