Ever buy used tires?
- Thread starter ZZman
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I tried to once, had a nail puncture right on the shoulder, the MOST unpatchable place, the couple shops i checked didn't have anything the right size in stock, and the tread was still good, so the one ended up putting a tube in it.
No, the installation is $25 per tires and a cheap new tire with 10/32 is only $70, used would be at least $30, so there is no savings.
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I got one years ago at a junkyard. it was a factory OEM tire so I didn't want to bother to match it. I think it was about $35 and at the time they mounted and balanced it for $10. Didn't feel like getting a new tire because I was going to get rid of that set. Ended up getting a new set of tires a year or two later. A new set of good tires mounted and balanced was close to $600.
Originally Posted by ZZman
I buy them for my beater cars but the wife's car gets new tires. The tire place by me usually has nice sets of matching tires. (2 matched tires)
How about you?
With a Subaru you may need to buy a used tire to match the other 3 if one is un-repairable. Or buy new and have its tread cut.
I buy them for my beater cars but the wife's car gets new tires. The tire place by me usually has nice sets of matching tires. (2 matched tires)
How about you?
With a Subaru you may need to buy a used tire to match the other 3 if one is un-repairable. Or buy new and have its tread cut.
16" and under I wouldn't even bother buying new tires, scrapyards are flooded with those sizes.
I have. Nearly new tires on ebay are cheap shipped. Local place will mount and balance for 15 each. Set of 4 conntential pro contact tires for the van 10/32 tread for under 250 installed. Tires have a year warranty. Enough savings for me when money is a little tight.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
We used to buy used tires for my mom's prior beater cars, she doesn't drive a whole lot so they worked out good.
My trailer uses 235/75-15 pickup truck tires, I went to a local Mexican tire shop I'd used a bunch of times before and we went looking for tires. They tried selling me some tires with full tread, from 2002! No way. Ended up just buying the cheapest tires Discount Tire had, Prodigy's and they've worked out great. They'll of course age out before they wear out.
Also had this shop replace all 4 tires on my aunt's 2013 VW Beetle TDI. It was being bought back by VW for the emissions scandal, and it had nearly new Pirellis on it. No way are we giving VW new Pirellis. Had them spin on the crappiest most bald and dry rotted tires they had, asked them not to balance them either. Was like $90 for the tires and install. Condition of the car didn't matter at buy-back. Still have the Pirellis waiting to go on her Avalon when it needs tires.
My trailer uses 235/75-15 pickup truck tires, I went to a local Mexican tire shop I'd used a bunch of times before and we went looking for tires. They tried selling me some tires with full tread, from 2002! No way. Ended up just buying the cheapest tires Discount Tire had, Prodigy's and they've worked out great. They'll of course age out before they wear out.
Also had this shop replace all 4 tires on my aunt's 2013 VW Beetle TDI. It was being bought back by VW for the emissions scandal, and it had nearly new Pirellis on it. No way are we giving VW new Pirellis. Had them spin on the crappiest most bald and dry rotted tires they had, asked them not to balance them either. Was like $90 for the tires and install. Condition of the car didn't matter at buy-back. Still have the Pirellis waiting to go on her Avalon when it needs tires.
About 2 years ago I was driving from Mexico City to Dallas with my family. Around 3:30 AM I got a flat, not wanting to stop in the middle of a dark highway I drove to a gas station that fortunately had a tire "shop". Once they had the tire off we discovered that a metal plate about the size of a index card had completely destroyed the tire inside. The "shop" had a similar size used tire with a similar speed,temp and traction rating. I have never bought a used tire and personally don't like the idea of using a tire that you have no idea about the history, but I was stranded in the middle of nowhere at 3:30 am, so I went ahead and put on that used tire. Once we crossed the border (800 miles later) I was able to find a discount tire and buy the correct tire. That was probably the worst trip I have had, but I was lucky that I was able to find a place that had a similar tire that was open at that time of night and didn't get robbed. For what its worth I did give the guy working there a a big tip.
I've bought used tires when money was tight and I needed a tire bad. but got new tires when circumstances allowed.
Another good reason to buy a used tire is for a full-size spare, when the car only comes with a donut.
Another good reason to buy a used tire is for a full-size spare, when the car only comes with a donut.
Before kids when I had a $800 car, I bought a few pairs of all season used tires. They were tires, no difference to the used tires I use everyday now. I have bought used snow tires which can be a great deal if you look for nearly new tires on rims. $700 in tires, $300 in rims and $100+ for mounting for $400 with the tires at 9.5-10/32 is a good deal IMO.
Originally Posted by Donald
Originally Posted by ZZman
I buy them for my beater cars but the wife's car gets new tires. The tire place by me usually has nice sets of matching tires. (2 matched tires)
How about you?
With a Subaru you may need to buy a used tire to match the other 3 if one is un-repairable. Or buy new and have its tread cut.
Just adjust tire pressure so same rolling diameter (Tape from pavement to upper rim edge). SOP for 4x4's
Speaking of 4x4's. Out in the desert you can run over sharp rocks and it's miserable trying to get rock cuts warrantied ... So I run used tires on alternate rims, and if I cut one down, just go get another. The desert eats tires, so no point in new ... Ditto for the farm trucks. You never know when you are going to run over a piece that fell off a disk or something.
New tires are for City Folk
Originally Posted by ZZman
I buy them for my beater cars but the wife's car gets new tires. The tire place by me usually has nice sets of matching tires. (2 matched tires)
How about you?
With a Subaru you may need to buy a used tire to match the other 3 if one is un-repairable. Or buy new and have its tread cut.
Just adjust tire pressure so same rolling diameter (Tape from pavement to upper rim edge). SOP for 4x4's
Speaking of 4x4's. Out in the desert you can run over sharp rocks and it's miserable trying to get rock cuts warrantied ... So I run used tires on alternate rims, and if I cut one down, just go get another. The desert eats tires, so no point in new ... Ditto for the farm trucks. You never know when you are going to run over a piece that fell off a disk or something.
New tires are for City Folk
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I had to buy a pair of used tires to get through a lease turn in. The tires were horrible and I swore I'd never do that again. However I suppose it can work for standard run-of-the-mill high profile tire.
Once. I was in a bit of a financial pinch, and the price was right, so I grabbed a set for my truck. One tire never completely held air, while the others did. No noticeable or identifiable leaks either.
These days, I'd be much more comfortable buying a no-name new tire someplace rather than wondering why the used tires are available...
These days, I'd be much more comfortable buying a no-name new tire someplace rather than wondering why the used tires are available...
When that was all I could afford, I bought a lot of used tires for the beaters that I drove back in the day.
My used tire story is this: Several years ago as I was moving from NC to FL, I was towing one of my project cars down with my '78 Chevy truck and a car trailer. As I was merging onto I-95, I thought I heard a pop, then felt the right rear tire go flat at 65+ mph. Once I wrestled back control of the vehicle and pulled off the interstate and was putting the spare on, I realized the spare had a broken band; probably from age. So, I limped to the next exit, half on the breakdown lane and half on the grass.
As I rounded the corner of the exit, I saw a big USED TIRE sign right there above a garage and the 'darned' thing was open. They had the size I needed (235/75/15) in an XL that appeared to be in great shape. I think it cost me $20 for everything. I just want to add that as I rounded that corner and saw that tire sign, I'm pretty sure I heard angelic harmony, LOL
My used tire story is this: Several years ago as I was moving from NC to FL, I was towing one of my project cars down with my '78 Chevy truck and a car trailer. As I was merging onto I-95, I thought I heard a pop, then felt the right rear tire go flat at 65+ mph. Once I wrestled back control of the vehicle and pulled off the interstate and was putting the spare on, I realized the spare had a broken band; probably from age. So, I limped to the next exit, half on the breakdown lane and half on the grass.
As I rounded the corner of the exit, I saw a big USED TIRE sign right there above a garage and the 'darned' thing was open. They had the size I needed (235/75/15) in an XL that appeared to be in great shape. I think it cost me $20 for everything. I just want to add that as I rounded that corner and saw that tire sign, I'm pretty sure I heard angelic harmony, LOL
I've bought used tires twice, both times back in the mid to late 80s. Most of the used tire places here in the Milwaukee metro area no longer exist.
Once I needed a tire for my old 1981 Mazda 626 and I went to this place to get one. The front door opened into a tiny office where a guy was sitting behind a desk. He asked what I needed and he thought for a moment, then said to follow him. We went through a door in the back of the office which opened up into a huge warehouse of thousands of tires stacked on the wall, all on edge with no markings. We walked through that warehouse into another one just like it, and the guy stopped in the middle and scanned the walls of tires. All of a sudden his arm shot out to point at some place on the wall, his helper got a ladder and started climbing up to where he was pointing. After a bit of "this one?", "no to the left" action the guy on the ladder pulled a tire off the rack and came down with it. It was exactly the brand I needed with similar tread remaining! I was dumbfounded. He said $25 including mounting and I took it.
Once I needed a tire for my old 1981 Mazda 626 and I went to this place to get one. The front door opened into a tiny office where a guy was sitting behind a desk. He asked what I needed and he thought for a moment, then said to follow him. We went through a door in the back of the office which opened up into a huge warehouse of thousands of tires stacked on the wall, all on edge with no markings. We walked through that warehouse into another one just like it, and the guy stopped in the middle and scanned the walls of tires. All of a sudden his arm shot out to point at some place on the wall, his helper got a ladder and started climbing up to where he was pointing. After a bit of "this one?", "no to the left" action the guy on the ladder pulled a tire off the rack and came down with it. It was exactly the brand I needed with similar tread remaining! I was dumbfounded. He said $25 including mounting and I took it.
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