Used Tire(s) Risks...?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 1
From: SE Coast FL
Used Tire(s) Risks...?
What are the risks of buying a used tire(s) even though good pics are provided and they claim to have 50% (5-6/32) tread life still?
(GY F1 GS2 EMT 285/35/19 in this case $200)
Thanks
(GY F1 GS2 EMT 285/35/19 in this case $200)
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: WA
Old hard rubber. Dry rot in places that doesn't show very easily. Flat spots or curb rash that they don't take pictures of.
Used tires are never a great idea because you don't know how they've been stored or cared for. Tires are the only thing connecting you to the road, it really doesn't make any sense to skimp out on them. At the very least buy a NEW set of cheap tires. Get some Kumho's or Sumitomo's or something. You bought a very expensive car, why put questionable tires on it? That's like wearing a tux to your wedding with your ratty lawn-mowing boots on.
Used tires are never a great idea because you don't know how they've been stored or cared for. Tires are the only thing connecting you to the road, it really doesn't make any sense to skimp out on them. At the very least buy a NEW set of cheap tires. Get some Kumho's or Sumitomo's or something. You bought a very expensive car, why put questionable tires on it? That's like wearing a tux to your wedding with your ratty lawn-mowing boots on.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,644
Likes: 13
From: South of Boston MA
Tires should have a 4-digit date code on them. The first two numbers represent the week the tire was made and the last two digits are the year. For example, a tire with 3208 on the sidewall means it was made in the 32nd week of 2008. Stay away from tires more than 4-5 years old no matter how good the tread looks. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
If your budget is slim, a good quality used tire (in good condition of course) will likely give you better service than cheap new tires on a dollar to dollar comparison. If those RF's were being replaced at the same time as wheels on a '08 or '09 then it's a fair guess they're still good for another 15K.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
If your budget is slim, a good quality used tire (in good condition of course) will likely give you better service than cheap new tires on a dollar to dollar comparison. If those RF's were being replaced at the same time as wheels on a '08 or '09 then it's a fair guess they're still good for another 15K.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
IMO buying used tires is generally not a good practice...I'd be very cautious.
I'm assume you're referring to Kumho street tires as being "cheap" (and not their 710 track tire). Not only is the Kumho 710 track tire a quality tire but at approximately $320 per tire they're not what I consider to be "cheap." 
Old hard rubber. Dry rot in places that doesn't show very easily. Flat spots or curb rash that they don't take pictures of.
Used tires are never a great idea because you don't know how they've been stored or cared for. Tires are the only thing connecting you to the road, it really doesn't make any sense to skimp out on them. At the very least buy a NEW set of cheap tires. Get some Kumho's or Sumitomo's or something. You bought a very expensive car, why put questionable tires on it? That's like wearing a tux to your wedding with your ratty lawn-mowing boots on.
Used tires are never a great idea because you don't know how they've been stored or cared for. Tires are the only thing connecting you to the road, it really doesn't make any sense to skimp out on them. At the very least buy a NEW set of cheap tires. Get some Kumho's or Sumitomo's or something. You bought a very expensive car, why put questionable tires on it? That's like wearing a tux to your wedding with your ratty lawn-mowing boots on.
