Used Tires: What to Know
If you’re on a budget it can be tempting to turn to used tires. No matter whether you need to replace one or all four, we’re here to help show that the lower costs of used tires don’t always add up to big savings in the end!
USED TIRES VS NEW TIRES
Some America's Tire stores stock and sell used tires-especially lightly used OE tires. These are from customers who want to immediately switch to a different tire after purchasing a new vehicle.
However, we don’t recommend opting for used tires unless you absolutely have to. Why? New tires are almost always the better option.
It may seem more cost effective to buy used tires but you’ll get far more value out of your purchase with a new set of rubber. There’s quite a few drawbacks and risks to purchasing used tires. These include:
Used tires don’t have a warranty
Used tires can be difficult to inspect for damage
It’s impossible to determine how used tires were maintained or treated
Used tires don’t receive notifications for safety or quality recalls
Used tire regulations are not as strict as new tires
Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that physically make contact with the road—pretty important if you ask us!
Since used tires already have miles on them (do you know exactly?), you’ll need to replace them much sooner than new. New tires should last at least three to four years (and often up to six) but used tires have uncertain lifespans. Often the end cost of a used tire set will add up to more than the initial cost of a new set of tires due to repairs and premature replacement.
Top Alternatives to used tires
Even if the used tire tread looks good and healthy, used tires might hide interior damage that can put the safety of you and your vehicle at risk. Interior damage is difficult to see and since used tires don’t come with manufacturer warranties, you are responsible for the incurred costs of flats, blow outs, tire failures and any other damages. You also won’t receive recall alerts.
When it comes to tire repair, only so much can be done to return used tires to safe operating standards. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) found in a study that tires with tread depths of 4/32” or less were significantly more likely to be a contributing factor for crashes.
Used tires can be unsafe due to their age, deterioration and potentially unseen interior damage or safety recall issues. They may be more likely to fail, cause accidents and incur additional costs for repair of both the tires and (potentially) your vehicle.
Some America's Tires do occasionally sell lightly used tires. It is at the discretion of each individual store whether they do this; there is no fixed policy regarding them. Some locations will issue credit towards a new purchased set for very new OE tires. Typically, these are tires new truck owners who very soon after purchase upgrade or upsize to larger tires. Therefore, these used tires usually have minimal mileage.
You can use Treadwell to shop our inventory of tires for options that fit your vehicle and use the sort filter for price. Plus, we offer easy financing options to help you get the tires you’re after—there’s no need to compromise your safety.
You can also save time when you buy your tires and book an appointment online—get a 30% average shorter wait in-store!