Smart buying is practiced by many today. Car owners should have a winning strategy especially in buying and maintaining a set of wheels. If you’re driving a used car in Winnipeg and you’re looking to save some money during your regular maintenance and service appointments, you might be interested in used tires.
Used tires do offer a very inexpensive alternative to new tires. A single standard all-season tire can cost anywhere from $100-$350, depending on the size of the tire, the type of car or truck, and brand selected.
Thinking about buying a set of tires for your car? If you purchase used tires, you don’t only save money but you also help our planet. Buying used tires means that you have recycled rubber and promotes the decrease of the harmful effect of thrown away rubber. This means freeing landfills from toxic garbage.
Used tires, on the other hand, are usually $25-$100 – so they do offer significant cost savings when compared to the original price of the new tires. It has performance tires, also called summer tires to answer all your needs. You just need to choose the right tires like winter tires for tires especially manufactured for snow and ice or all terrain tires for traction on all kinds of surfaces.
But these cost savings have some people wondering – are used tires safe?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the basics behind used tires, and answer 5 FAQs that Ride Time customers often have about used tires.
- What Exactly Is A “Used Tire”?
A “used tire” is exactly what it sounds like on the package – a tire that’s already been used! Whether from a car that’s been sold, a junker that’s been destroyed, or any other source, a “used tire” is any tire that has previously been driven on or are called aging tires.
In buying tires, it is safe to always consider the tire price against the tread life. It is important to take a closer look to the tire warranties and its tire tread. The treadwear grades will definitely give you a clear idea when you choose the right tires.
Naturally, this means that there is a lot of variation in used tire quality. You could get a used tire that’s been driven for 20,000 kilometers, or one that’s had over 100,000 kilometers put on it – and sometimes, there’s no way to tell.
However, undamaged used tires can easily last between 80,000 and 200,000 kilometers – so budget-minded individuals often turn to used tires in order to save some money.
Used tires can be found at repair shops, gas stations, and some tire shops.
- Are All Used Tires The Same?
Not necessarily. First, let’s distinguish between used and remanufactured tires.
Used tires are usually tires that have been damaged and then repaired or have been taken off of cars that are headed for a junkyard. Some car owners sell used tires and bring them to the shop. The quality of a used tire can vary quite widely, depending on the source, age, tread life and tire manufacturer. Take a closer look at the tread left of the car tire because it certainly tells you about its quality.
Remanufactured tires are different. Also known as “bead-to-bead remolding”, this process actually restores old tires especially for tires which have internal damage. Essentially, tires manufactured like the same process as crafting a new tire, but preserve the internal components of a tire (steel/polyester belts, sidewall, rims, etc).
During remanufacturing, the casing is inspected and refurbished, and a new sidewall and tread are vulcanized directly to the casing and internal components, permanently bonding with the tire. Also, wheel alignment shall be done along with this process.
On the exterior, a remanufactured tire is essentially the same as a new tire, like that of the performance tires, though it maintains the same internal components. For those who are wary of buying used tires, remanufactured tires offer a great alternative – and they’re still less expensive if you purchase new tires.
If you are thinking about buying a set of used tires, you have to keep in mind your needs and your situation. You can choose among a summer tire, winter tires or all terrain tires. You can check also on the proper mounting and balancing and even request for test drives.
Always practice preventive maintenance to your car. You can bring your car to the experts and let them check about the tread depths of your tires. Regular tire rotation and oil change are recommended. When travelling, in order to prevent from having a flat tire, always bring a spare tire.
- Are There Any Regulatory Standards For Used Tires?
Yes. In Canada, any reputable tire shop will adhere to the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Tire Manufacturer’s Association. These guidelines set forth quality control and regulatory guidelines that are used to ensure that repaired and used tires are high-quality and safe.
However, it’s important to note that tire shops aren’t required to adhere to these regulations. If you buy tires from a low-quality shop, you could be putting yourself at risk.
Choose the right tires by checking on the dot code of the tire. The dot code reveals the date the tire was manufactured. The first two digits of the dot code tell about the week of the manufacturing and the last two digits reveal the manufacturing year.
- Are Used Tires As Safe As New Tires?
This depends on the tire. Often, cars that have been in accidents or sold for scrap have nearly-new tires on them – and these are very safe. There are cars which have all terrain tires and even have good performance tires.
However, if you buy car with older tires it tends to have a lower overall level of performance. Used tires generally have a longer stopping distance, because their treads are more worn – and improperly repaired tires could put you at risk of a blowout.
Pre-owned cars which have tires replaced must make sure to first measure the tread depth especially for aging tires. Another area to check is its proper mounting and balancing, wheel balancing and its wheel alignment. It is safe to buy used tires as long as you will meticulously choose the right tires.
Tires for your vehicle should have good performance tires especially when you are travelling far. Long and tedious tire repairs usually caused by a flat tire should be avoided by bringing in a spare tire.
For rubber tires, it is very important to regularly undertake proper check-up of the tire tread. This process will tell about the extent of worn out tires and most especially whether tires are safe.
There are many types of tires that you can choose from: summer tires which are also called performance tires, all terrain tires, winter tires and more. There are used tires safe to buy but you have to carefully choose your trusted tire manufacturer and the product itself.
In a way, buying used tires is like buying a used car – whether or not you get a good one depends on who you shop from, if you do your homework, and if you take the time to understand the condition of the product you’re buying.
- Can I Check The Age Of A Used Tire?
Yes! The U.S. Department of Transportation adopted a “code system” that’s in use in Canada, and can be used to check the age and date of manufacture of any used tire.
You can recognize this on the sidewall of the tire. There will be an 8-14 character code preceded by the word “DOT”. An example of a tire code would be “DOT U2LL LMLR5107”.
Dot codes mean the tire has numerical characters in which the last 4 digits are what refer to the age of a tire. “51” refers to the week of the year in which the tire was manufactured – in this case, the 51st week of the year. “07” would refer to the year in which a tire was manufactured – in this case, 2007. This information will give you a clear idea about the age of the tire or whether it is already worn out tires or still safe.
This system makes it easy to see if tires are safe or are relatively new, which can be very helpful if you’re shopping for high-quality used tires.
Come To Ride Time Today For Your Used Car Needs!
At Ride Time, we have the best car deals. We sell a variety of used car parts and accessories – as well as a huge selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs.
If you need car tires, come into our Winnipeg location today! We have a huge selection of all-season tires like brand-new tires, and we can also source high-quality used or remanufactured tires for your vehicle. Everything you desire, we provide!
We can also perform basic services like tire repairs, mounting and balancing, and rotations. So whether you’re interested in some new tires – or simply in need of a tire analysis – come in today! Our seasoned auto professionals are happy to serve you!
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