Your tires are literally where the rubber meets the road. No part of your vehicle is more important for providing safety to you and your passengers. Replacing old tires with used ones can seem tempting. When comparing tire costs, remember that only new tires are guaranteed to not fail or blow out. When it comes to used vs. new tires are you wondering which one to go with? Check out these top reasons why buying used tires is often not the best choice!
Is Buying Used Tires Dangerous?
When comparing tire costs, buying used tires can seem tempting. An estimated 30 million used tires are sold in the U.S. annually. That is about 10 percent of the overall market.
Dangers of Used Tires
A used tire may not be the best match for different types of vehicles. During tire replacement, professionals will find tires that are the best fit for your vehicle. A used tire salesman may try and find something that is simply “adequate” just to rid themselves of inventory.
Used tires may appear to have plenty of tread left. Treadwear is only one factor that drivers should consider. The manufacturer and age of the tire are also important. Rubber degrades over time — regardless of treadwear. Oxidation, heat, environmental conditions, and pressure can compromise the integrity of used tires even when the treadwear appears light. Over time, this can break down the adhesion between the layers of the tires.
Tires are more complex than a lot of people think. The layers of a tire include:
- The inner liner
- Two polyester body plies
- Two steel belts
- Two bead reinforcing strips
- The sidewall rubber
- The tread.
The outward appearance of different tire sizes can be misleading. Your best bet is to avoid used tires and to trust a reputable tire company to fit your car with new, warranted tires. (To learn more about tire maintenance tips, follow our fun and check out our other articles.)
Blowouts
The biggest danger of buying used tires is a blowout. Blowouts result from a complete failure of the tire structure, and that often occurs when the car is driving at high speeds. Blowouts start with a loud boom that is followed by a sudden jerk to one side.
Blowouts are a leading cause of car accidents. More than 700 people died in tire-related crashes in 2017, according to the NHTSA.
Used Tires Come Without Driver History
When we buy used cars, we expect to know the car’s entire history. This includes maintenance history and whether the vehicle was in an accident. Used tires do not come with this type of history.
Did the previous driver regularly rotate and balance his or her tires? Doing so would mean that tread wear is evenly distributed across the tires. With used tires, we simply do not know this important information.
Without documented history, there is no way to know whether the tires were exposed to variables that could lead to tread separation and other forms of tire failure. Used tires require taking the word of the seller that a tire is safe for use.
Benefits of Buying New Tires
The top benefits of using new tires are safety and peace of mind. Here are several more reasons why spending a little more can pay off in the long run.
Longer Life
Buying used tires is a stop-gap measure. Often, you are just putting off the inevitable. With light driving, regular maintenance, and tire patching as needed, new tires can last several years.
Increased Vehicle Performance
Your car’s ability to accelerate and stop depends largely on the condition of your tires. Whether you are a sports car enthusiast or simply care about being able to stop quickly and safely, the quality of your tires should be a top priority.
Deeper Treads
Treads help your tires grip the road. The grooves are designed to channel water so your car doesn’t slide or hydroplane during a storm. Brand new tires come with the ideal tread depth to ensure stability on the road.
Manufacturer Warranty
New tires typically come with some sort of warranty. Warranties are a guarantee that your tire will last for the expected mileage lifetime set by the manufacturer. Used tires do not come with manufacturer warranties.
Better Gas Mileage
Worn tires are uneven and slightly smaller in circumference. This means that your engine has to work harder to translate horsepower into forward motion. To save on gas, change your tires as recommended.
Affordability
Many people think that buying used tires saves money. This is not always the case. When lost engine performance and the short lifespan of used tires are factored in, it often makes more sense to purchase new tires.
Our subscription plan makes buying new tires easy and affordable. We offer three tiers. Our entry-level plan starts at just $1 a day.
Our Premium Plan offers:
- Brand new premium tires for life
- Tire rotations
- damaged tire replacements
- Flat tire repairs
- On-demand roadside assistance
If you thinking purchasing new tires is unaffordable, think again. A small investment of just $1 a day can equip your vehicle with four premium tires
Don’t Risk It – Equip Your Car with New Tires
Buying used tires might seem like a great way to save a few bucks. Economically, those savings rarely add up. From a safety perspective, used tires are more likely to fail you on the road.
Our app-based tire services make rotating and buying tires a breeze. Once you sign up for one of our subscription plans, you’ll no longer have to worry about saving up for new tires.
