Are you planning on replacing your tires soon? You may want to consider buying used tires for your vehicle. To make sure you’re buying quality tires, we’re sharing our ultimate guide to buying used tires.

What To Look For

Knowing what to look for when you buy used tires will help ensure you are getting quality tires that are safe and have life left in them. Here are three crucial factors to consider anytime you are looking at purchasing used tires.

Tread

The amount of tread on a tire is an essential factor to check when you are buying used tires. 

The average new tire has about 12/32 of an inch of tread on the tire, and once they have 4/32 of an inch left, it might be time to replace them. So, if the tire you are looking at is closer to 4/32 of an inch than 10/32 of an inch, it may not have much life left in it.

The simplest way to сheck the tread depth is to insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down; if you see the whole head, the tire is worn out. You can also use a quarter, a tread depth gauge, or look at the tread indicator on the tire.

Age

One of the most important factors to consider when you are looking at used tires is the age of the tire. 

According to manufacturers, after six years of frequent usage, the rubber starts to break down and dry too much. The US Department of Transportation suggests that ten years is the longest age for a working tire when it’s had excellent maintenance. 

Usually, in the 7th year, the rubber starts to break down from exposure to the sun, weather elements, and road conditions, so be cautious and look for cracks from dryness.

Every tire produced after 2000 has a number that indicates the week and year the tire was manufactured. For example, 4309 means that the tire was made in the 43rd week of 2009. 2118 means that the tires were made the 21st week of 2018. 

Use this numbering system to determine how old the tire is.

Tire Seams

Once you’ve determined the remaining tread and age, look over the tires thoroughly for any defects in the seams.

You want to look for any bubbles, splitting seams, or signs of patches or plugs. Those are all signs that the tire might not hold air well. 

Damage to the seams can even lead to a blowout, so you want to ensure the seams are in good condition and don’t have any apparent signs of wear or damage. 

Again if you aren’t sure if your seems are in good condition, it’s best to bring your car in for a quick inspection at Murray’s Tires so we can take a look at all 4 of your tires and make a determination as to whether your car needs new tires.

Advantages To Buying Used Tires

There are advantages to buying used tires, and that’s why some people prefer buying used tires. 

It may take longer to find the right used tires that are in good enough shape that you can still use them for a while.

Save money when buying tires

Possibly the best advantage of buying used tires is that you save money. You can save anywhere from 30-50% off from new tires when you get used ones.

If you only need to replace one tire on your car, buying a used one is an excellent way to avoid purchasing a complete set. If your other tires are still in good condition and you can find a used one that is in decent shape as well, this may be the ideal solution for you.

And the lower cost of used tires means you can buy a spare in case of a flat or accident. This peace of mind will make upcoming road trips a little less stressful. 

Reduce waste

Another great benefit of buying used cars is that it causes less waste and is environment-friendly. Reusing old tires helps decrease the waste created by throwing away old tires. An estimated 290 million tires are discarded in the United States alone each year! By switching to buying used tires, you can help decrease that number and contribute to a cleaner, greener planet.

Are you interested in buying used tires in Raleigh, North Carolina? 

Here at Murray’s Tires & Auto Service, we offer a wide selection of used tires and a 30-day limited warranty on purchased tires. 

Contact us now to get quality used tires today.