Used Tires: Should You Buy Them?

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
01/02/2015 at 11:59 • Filed to: None

As a car guy, one of my least favorite things is preventative maintenance. From a philosophy standpoint I've always had a hard time accepting the need to fix something that isn't yet broken. Timing belts are probably offender #1 here...depending on your engine a broken timing belt could be an inconvenience or the apocalypse.

But second to PM is just wear items in general. Brake pads, spark plugs, tires. So while I don't look to cut corners on wear items, I do look to save money wherever I can. And recently, that has brought me to the world of used tires.

Generally, I would rather buy a used quality X than a new cheap X. Used Craftsman tools instead of new HF ones. Used Fender Telecaster instead of a new Gibson (I kid, I kid...Gibson builds a fine guitar). That sort of thing.

It started when I had my '01 Audi allroad. The car had a new set of General Ultimax HPs in 225/17, and they were really nice tires. But I wore them the hell out driving 400 miles a week to Worcester for work, and as winter was approaching, I went looking for 'new' tires.

Looking around on eBay, I stumbled upon a used pair of Continental Extreme Contacts in 245/17 that would fit my wheels. According to the seller (who had very good feedback), the tread depth measured at 10/32...which is the new tire depth for that tire. They were also less than half the price of a new pair.

I scooped them up, bought a brand new pair to go on the other axle, and when they both showed up, I compared. The used tires really were like new. They wore the same as the new ones, and were generally an excellent set of tires.

From there, I generally look at used tires now before I look at new ones when I'm in the market. I never buy road hazard warranties (though I'm rethinking that aspect, my dad just used them on 3 tires in as many weeks), so for me, used tires are the way to go.

Case in point, I just picked up a set of 'used' tires for my Civic. Goodyear Eagle Sport All Seasons in 205/60/16, all with 10/32 tread depth. I got them for $260 shipped, and a friend of mine is a service writer at a nearby Toyota dealer, so I got them mounted and balanced for $40. He quoted me $440 for the tires new, so I saved $140, which is better spent on any of the myriad of things the Jaguar requires at any given time.

So are used tires the way to go if you want to save a buck or two? Personally, I'd rather buy a used set of good tires (Goodyear, Firestone, Michelin, Continental, etc etc) than a new set of PepBoys' house brand. But know who you're buying from (my eBay seller had 99.8 % positive feedback with 132k overall feedback, which is pretty impressive), and if you're going to buy used, get them as close to new as possible.

DISCUSSION (20)

T5Killer > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:01

I buy used tires for my DD all the time. I just cannot see spending hundreds of dollars on tires for a $600 car

Takuro Spirit > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:13

Just beware of used tires that have been "professionally repaired", especially run flats. Yes this is a thing. Yes, it is scary.

jariten1781 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:16

I don't mind buying them for myself but I'm hesitant to recommend them to non-car people. I've seen some sketchy stuff like poorly bonded patches, 10 year old rubber with good tread, and chunks missing from the bead on otherwise decent tires that people were trying to sell.

Party-vi > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:17

If I can help it, I will never mis-match tires on a car and will not buy used tires for a car, unless they're winter tires that will see limited mileage and they're already mounted.

PyramidHat > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:19

I haven't bought used, but I'm not against them. When I went through tire replacement for both my vehicles, I did consider used, but went with new because I just...wasn't...sure...

I even considered getting off-brand tires (Kumo, I think?) for the Taco as I drive it - maybe - 3000 miles/year (mainly weekend/errand usage with occasional trips to work). The research I did led me to believe that they're round enough, black enough and rubber enough to do the job. When I brought it in, I wound up getting Firestones - they were about $100 more, total, and - as with the used tires - I just...wasn't...sure...

One thing I noticed about internet research is that you need to be good at filtering opinions. While some folks are "Yeah - they're good enough" there are others that go the opposite "Oh, my God, how could you even consider used/off-brand tires! Do you want your family to die?!" (usually, there's more caps in those responses).

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Takuro Spirit
01/02/2015 at 12:20

Exactly right. I wouldn't buy a car with run flats anyway, they're awful.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:21

I've said this in this space before - your tires are the only part of the car in contact with the road. I always bought new tires - even in college, I got the best that I could afford. That said, gently-used tires are probably OK.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan
01/02/2015 at 12:24

True that. Basically what I'm doing in buying used tires is buying, to me, the best I can afford. I could afford about $250 for this car, and I could either have like-new Goodyears or new...Runways? I figure on tires that are basically new, there's not a ton of downside, you know?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:24

On my DD, last two times I've gone for dealer delivery tires. Used for moving new cars to the dealer and around, replaced with actual optioned tires before sale. My last ones were Yokos, most recent are Goodyear. It's not a top-tier tire by any means, and can be noisy, but perfectly serviceable - and when you get them they're near brand new for much less.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jariten1781
01/02/2015 at 12:25

You're 100% right. For most guys on Oppo, we're car people. I can look at these used tires and I know what to look for and I can determine whether or not they're a good tire. But yeah, I wouldn't tell my sister-in-law to go and trust the used tire guy, haha.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
01/02/2015 at 12:26

That's interesting, I didn't even know that was a thing. Do you buy those through the dealer?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > PyramidHat
01/02/2015 at 12:29

You're not gonna go too far wrong with new, that's for sure. You research the treadwear, how quiet they are, and how they grip and that's basically it. On a used tire, obviously you've got the unknown of how they were used.

To me, I can look at the tire and determine if it's a good used tire. I saw that the Eagle Sport was one of the best tires in it's class, and the guy I bought them from basically says if you don't think they were accurately represented, he'll pay to ship them back. I was confident enough in the seller that I thought the tires were worth a look, and they're really as good as he said.

Plus, the Eagle Sport is a great looking and performing tire that I wouldn't have been able to afford from my buddy. So I'm happy about that.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:29

Nope - my local tire store has a connection of some kind for them. They're somewhat dependent (presumably) on what a manufacturer can bulk-purchase cheap, hence why I had Yokohamas followed by Goodyear. Availability varies somewhat, apparently. The Yokos were a Toyota dealer network resale thing, not sure on the GY. It's worth noting that only some sizes would work to pull this off - for reference, I'm dealing in a 195/65 R15, so only thoroughly boring sizes are likely possible.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Party-vi
01/02/2015 at 12:32

I agree on the mis-matching. I once bought a car that had a no-name brand tire on it, but two of them were like new. When I went to buy two more for a matching set, I found they had changed the sidewall a little bit, so I wound up buying four.

Related story: That was the first and last time I'll ever buy tires from Town Fair Tire. I went in a 1pm, and didn't get out of there until almost 7. At 6 the guy came out and told me they were just balancing my tires now and sorry for the delay, I asked him if the delay was because it fell off the lift, because otherwise it's just ridiculous. Never going in there again.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
01/02/2015 at 12:33

That's pretty good though. And just remember, narrower rubber is easier to slide.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 12:37

True.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 13:03

There were fatter and taller tires on the Benz before, but with my turbo currently "AFK LOL", it doesn't really push them well. That, and I had some rub issues and weird wear resulting from bigger tires on a suspension not really set up for them. So, I went back to factory size. Of course, the factory size is supposed to be 28 front (hurr hurr on-purpose understeer) and 32 rear, with a jump in front pressure when driving over 100mph...

Benz, always good for a laugh.

Meatcoma > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 13:10

I agree mostly with you and I have bought used tires before multiple times. Used tires come with no manufacturer warranty 99% of the time. So if they are defective in some way, you will have a hard time getting the orig seller to cough that money back up. Just a precaution.

rodassecondo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 13:12

Would prefer not to buy used, but sometimes I do. Usually rears in summer for e36 fun.

But I don't buy them online. At least 2 times they looked ok but didn't drove well ( noise, vibration even after balance ) so had to change them.

After 22 years driving only had 2 high speed blowouts and both were supposedly "bought new" tyres.

But of course, new is better.

fishtankwog > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
01/02/2015 at 19:20

If we are voting, probably not. New tires are more warranty than tire, really - road service, replacement, etc is worth more to me in the long run than the actual tires.