Complete Guide to Used Tires

When researching tires, it can be tempting to buy used tires to save money. Used tire sellers advertise their products as safe and cheaper, but used tires can be a costly and dangerous mistake. 

If you need to get tires, before you settle for used ones, even if it’s just temporary, learn about the difference between used and new tires and alternatives to settling for potentially low-quality tires. 

Why Do People Buy Used Tires?

Some people might argue that reusing tires with remaining tread life is good for the environment. It’s true that maximizing the lifespan of tires can help reduce landfill waste. Companies have found ways to repurpose tire rubber, such as in the manufacturing of asphalt, playground surfaces and other rubber materials. You can learn more about rubber recycling from Recycling Inside, an industry newsletter for recycling industry professionals. 

What it comes down to is cost: Vehicle owners consider buying used tires because they can be 30% to 50% less than brand-new tires. It seems like a no-brainer: Putting brand-new tires on a vehicle that has 100,000 or more miles doesn’t make sense! Why put new tires on a car that’s at the end of its life? Well, we have a few answers to that.

Are Used Tires Safe?

Short answer: You can’t know.

Long answer: Used tires are not safe because you don't know their history. Safety is of the utmost importance when driving, and replacing parts of your vehicle with used parts is not a good idea. Three reasons to avoid used tires: 

• You don't know their history, and tires have expiration dates. Most tires have a shelf life of 5 to 6 years, and for people who live in dry, arid parts of the world, their tires may have less useful life. 
• Age, weather and driving style affect treadwear, and when you buy used tires from someone you don't know, you're gambling with your safety.
• You may not get your money's worth. Pay $90 for a used tire today, but if it fails at 6 months, you've wasted the money. A $150 new tire with a warranty gives you recourse; a used tire doesn't.

Consumer Reports warns its readers to avoid used tires at all costs. The trusted consumer advocacy organization had this to say after an investigation into used tires: "Don’t buy used tires: you don’t know where they have been or how they’ve been used.” They explain that there is no way to know whether tires have been driven overloaded, underinflated, or to excessive high speeds, which could lead to internal damage not visible from the outside.

Tire Agent offers a number of ways to pay for tires through PayPair, Affirm, PayPal and other methods. These payment options allow you to break purchase into smaller, more manageable amounts so you don’t have to sacrifice quality for price. 

5 Reasons Not to Buy Used Tires

From compromising your safety on the road to shortening the lifespan of your vehicle, here are five important reasons why you should never buy a used set of tires.

1. Safety: One of the most common problems with used tires is their unknown history. Used tires can suffer from structural damage or uneven wear, which reduce their performance and increase the risk of accidents.
2. Lifespan: Used tires may not last as long as new tires. This means more low-cost, short-term fixes versus higher-cost long-term solutions (and peace of mind).
3. Value: Spending more money on better quality, new tires actually pays off in the long run. With better quality rubber and reinforced sidewalls, top-tier tires provide much greater value in terms of performance, lifespan and even fuel efficiency.
4. Fuel efficiency: Unevenly treaded, older tires lower your fuel efficiency as your car has to work harder to move. So, while you might think you are saving by buying used tires over new ones, you could be losing fuel efficiency by driving on lower-quality tires. 
5. No warranty: Manufacturer warranties do not transfer when vehicles are sold, nor do they transfer when you buy used tires. When you purchase used tires, you’re buying at your own risk and won’t get a manufacturer's refund on the remaining mileage of the tire if it fails because of manufacturing defects. 

How to Evaluate New and Used Tires

Whether you’re buying used tires (which we don’t recommend) or new tires, being a smart shopper will help you get the most for your money. Here is what you should look for when buying tires:

• Look at the sidewall of the tire and check the date code. This shows when the tire was manufactured. Tires have a shelf life of 5 to 6 years, so this will help get a sense of how much time the tire has left. Read this article about how to interpret DOT tire codes to learn how to interpret date codes.
• Look for cracks in the sidewalls. You know that expression “kick the tires”? Don’t need to literally do this, but a gentle push of the thumb will reveal cracks in tires that signal they may have sat too long or are used/old. Don’t buy used tires with cracks in the rubber. 
• Look at all sides of the tires: inside, outside, surface and bead (see this guide to tire anatomy) for evidence of imperfections. 
• Check the tread depth, as it should be above 2/32 of an inch. Learn how to use the quarter test to check to see how much tread life remains of a used tire. 

Affordable New Tires: A Better Alternative

Used tires might not be safe or reliable, but you may feel like they’re your only option. That’s not the case. 

Tire Agent’s goal is to provide access to the best replacement tires at a great price. We make it easy to find and compare makes and models. We offer more than a dozen ways to pay for tires, which you can learn about on our tire and wheel finance page.  

To get started: From any page, select Shop Tires and Wheels and enter your vehicle’s make, model, year and trim level. We’ll ask you to confirm your tire size, which is explained more in a separate post on reading tire sizes.

We provide a list of all the tires that fit your car. From there, you can narrow your search to more affordable brands and other factors like warranty, brand, road conditions, fuel efficiency and more. See this guide on the best cheap and budget tires. 

QUICK TAKES: FAQs About Used Vs. New Tires

Should I buy used tires? Are they worth it?

Buying used tires is a bad idea because of their unknown history, potential safety issues, and lack of warranty against manufacturing defects. This applies to purchasing anything marketed as junkyard tires, barely used tires, resale tires, gently used tires, second-hand tires, pull-off tires, and takeoff tires.

What is the best place to buy used tires online?

Used tires can be purchased online, but remember: You won’t be able to inspect them for quality or age. Tire Agent does not sell used tires. Because we don't recommend buying used tires, we don't recommend any sellers. 

Is it OK to use one used tire?

No. This is because driving on mismatched tires risks damaging your other three tires and hurts your gas mileage. Additionally, you may notice your car doesn’t handle well and may pull to one side or feel bumpy on smooth roads. We do not recommend buying 1 or 4 used tires.

Where can I find cheap used tires in my area?

Cheap used tires may be offered in physical stores near you, but watch out for shady, cash-only deals for tires with questionable history (used tires being sold as new, for example). Don’t buy cheap used tires. 

What about used snow tires?

Don't risk your life with used snow tires ... your car may slide or slip off the road, putting you and other drivers in danger and costing you thousands of dollars in car damage.

What are take-off tires and rims, and is it OK to buy them?

Take-off tires and rims or wheels are almost new, slightly used, factory-installed tires that a car buyer doesn't want. They're also referred to as pulloff tires. Because some automakers put midrange tires as OE on new vehicles, it’s not uncommon for a customer to purchase upgraded tires, or negotiate upgraded tires into the purchase price. Some dealerships then resell takeoff tires at a discounted price. These tires likely have only a few miles on them, driven by test drivers and salespeople at the dealership. You may be able to find good deals on take-off tires, but the bottom line is: A used tire is a used tire.

Are retreads safe for passenger cars?

No. You should not purchase retreads for passenger vehicles. This is a specific type of tire refurbishing that’s used in the trucking and transportation industry. They’re also known as recap tires and remolded tires. The manufacturer of retreads puts the tire through a remanufacturing process. Retreads are not intended for passenger vehicles. They work well with trailer tires in the drive and trailer positions.  

How much do used tires cost?

Used tires cost 30% to 50% less than brand-new tires. The cost of used tires depends on location, initial price when new, size, brand, tread type, treadwear, age and alignment and care history. Vehicles that are out of alignment and tires that were not rotated and balanced properly will wear unevenly. 

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Main Photo 4837220 | Used Tires | Marcus Miranda | Dreamstime