Buying Used Tires: Should You or Shouldn’t You?

Buying Used Tires: Should You or Shouldn’t You?
Buying used tires is not uncommon for vehicle owners on a budget. New tires are an expense, and one
which may not have been planned if replacement is unexpected. Although this is an option, buying used
tires to save money could be a mistake. Because they’re used, you won’t know their true condition,
where they came from, how safe they are or how they were used. The tires could have been
overinflated, underinflated, or driven in treacherous weather or road conditions. All of these things
could lead to internal damage that the seller is unaware of or won’t warn you about. Learn the pitfalls of
buying used tires:
Tires Aren’t Inspected for Internal Damage
It’s impossible to check for internal damage when shopping for used tires – whether you buy them
online or in-person. Moreover, most retailers don’t check for or warn customers about possible inner
tire damage. However, inner tire damage can be caused by a variety of things, including:
Vehicle impacts that cause tread separation, weaken belts and cords or cause external bulges or
cuts
Tiny pinholes that allow water to enter the inner tire
Small shards of glass embedded in the tire rubber
Used Tires May Have Old, Worn Rubber
Like many things in life, rubber ages. After about five years, the compounds in tire rubber begin to dry
out and deteriorate. This can be caused by ozone, ultraviolet ray (UV ray), dust or salt exposure and
more. Poor maintenance can exacerbate wear on the rubber or increase the aging process. Tires over
the age of the five should be inspected annually, but this isn’t often the case with used tires.
Before buying a used tire, check the age on the four-digit Department of Transportation (DOT) date code
within the tire’s sidewall. The first two numbers in the code indicate the week of manufacture, while the
second two numbers indicate the year. For example, 3216 means that a tire was manufactured in the
32nd week of 2016.
Of course, if you buy new tires from the best tire shop Edmonton has to offer – Computerized AutoPro
– you won’t have to worry about aging or wear. Our shop sells tires at just 10% over cost, giving you the
opportunity to save money and providing you with new, worry-free tires.
They Aren’t Inspected for Overall Damage
Without a proper inspection, it’s impossible to determine the true condition of a used tire. These tires
could possibly have a mountain of problems, including: cracks and dryness, improper repair, leading to
anomalies or decreased performance and excessive tread wear. However, an inspection could detect
major and minor damage, preventing possible road accidents and the sale of recalled tires. Since proper
inspections aren’t usually performed by used tire retailers, experts suggest you never by tires that have:

Exposed inner parts or cords
No warranty or tire registration
Less than 2/32” of tread
Beads, tread shoulder or sidewall repairs
A manufacturer’s recall
Wide punctures
Unclear or non-existent DOT code
Any signs of damage, especially cord, ply or tread separation
Save a bundle on your brand new tires – contact us today to find the tires that are going to perform best
for your vehicle.