In the difficult period we are going through, the price of vehicle tires, like everything else, is witnessing great increases. Naturally, in such an environment, buying second-hand tires has become an important option. But Consumer Reports says it’s not a good option and warns “Don’t buy used tires.” Because he thinks it is very difficult to know where the tire is stored, how and under what conditions they are used.
The biggest concern, of course, arises in the area of security. There’s no easy way to tell how safe or unsafe a used tire might be, and you probably don’t want to take that risk, Consumer Reports says.
On the other hand, while new tires are superior to used tires in many ways, there is one very important factor in favor of buying used tires: Cost… New tires are of course much more expensive. If cost is very important to you, going second hand may be your only option. But in doing so, there are some things to consider before spending money.
Now let’s look at the pros and cons of both buying new tires and second hand tires…
Pros of buying new tires
- They are safer. Driving with relatively worn tires at highway speeds in wet conditions can “increase average stopping distances by an astonishing 43 percent,” according to AAA’s research.
- They last longer.
- You know exactly what you got.
- It’s often easier to find the tires you need.
- Teeth are equal.
- They usually come with a warranty.
Cons of buying new tires
- They are expensive… Tire prices rose through 2021 and continue to rise in 2022 due to supply chain problems, inflation, worker unrest and raw material costs is doing.
The pros of buying used tires
- Substantially cheaper – you can find them up to 50% cheaper.
- Environmental concerns… Scrap rubber is a big environmental concern, but we assume you’ll recycle your old tires instead of throwing them off the road. Still, it can be said that using any tire as long as it is safe is the best choice for the environment.
Cons of buying used, second-hand tires
- Tyres have a lifespan. A used tire will wear out the tread and the tire will be older, so it probably won’t last as long as a new tire of the same quality.
- Recall status… If a used tire is recalled by the manufacturers, you may not even know.
- The Unknowns… Even if you inspect the tread and tire very carefully for wear and damage, you can’t really know all the stresses a tire has been subjected to by its previous owner.
- Warranty status… While some vendors will offer warranties for used used tires, it will be much shorter than the four, five or six year warranties you can get for new tires.
Ultimately, how long any car tire will last depends on many factors. Like how the car is driven and how often it is maintained, the age and quality of the tire, the road and weather conditions in which the car is driven. Aside from the monetary sense of buying used tires, you never know exactly what you’re getting.
You can still find good value used tires from trusted sellers. For example, the tires of a vehicle that has a curtain almost unused will be close to zero. Of course, in such a case, you need to meet a seller who knows the history of the used tire you will buy.
What should you pay attention to when buying used tires?
The first thing to consider when looking at a used tire is how deep the tread is. The tread depth on a brand new tire is usually around 8mm. If the tread depth is less than 3mm, it is recommended to replace the tires. Under 1.6mm, the tire’s road grip drops too much.
Even if the tread is deep, it would also be a bad idea to buy an old tire. Tire dries out and weakens over time, even if you hardly ever drive. While a tire does not have an exact lifespan, Chrysler, Ford General Motors and European automakers have set a tire’s shelf life to six years.
You don’t have to rely on the seller’s word for the age of the tire. Tires have identification numbers on the side. These numbers will give you the information you need to know about the manufacture of the tire.
We suggest that you inspect the tire thoroughly… Check for any patches or signs of repair. Check for cracks. Check for bubbles near them. Check for any dents, flat spots, uneven wear. But at the end of the day, know that you can’t see all the flaws in a tire just by inspecting it.
Finally, before buying a used tire, it’s a good idea to check the price of a new one. You can make your final decision after making sure that the savings are worth it.
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