Guide To Buying Tires

January 25, 2022

After purchasing a car, many car owners are surprised at the amount of upkeep and maintenance necessary to keep cars running in top shape. Replacing worn tires is one of the best moves you can make for your car’s comfort and safety, but tires can get expensive. Many car owners turn to used cars as a more affordable option, but used tires can be a mixed blessing. Yes, they might be less expensive, but they can also be dangerous and costly if not examined properly. If you’re thinking of buying tires, it's a good idea to compare brands and research online deals.

Check The Tread Depth

One of the most obvious indicators of a tire’s overall health is the tread depth. The tread depth is the measure of the distance between the top of the tread - the part that touches the road - and the inner wall of the tire. To measure tread depth, use a tire depth gauge. A tire depth gauge is a handy tool that can help you measure used tires’ treads, cluing you in on how much rubber is actually left on the outside of the tire. Don’t go with tires that have less than fifty percent of their original tread depth.

Look For Prior Patches

Once the structural integrity of a tire is compromised, it will never be the same again. Tires that have been previously punctured are far more likely to have a blowout in the future, even if they have been patched or sealed. These patches are meant to be temporary fixes and many of them are held in place by the air pressure inside a tire. When tires are removed, those patches or seals can come loose. Check all used tires for signs of prior repairs, and steer clear of ones that have been repaired in the past.

Take A Look At The Sidewall

Some people just don’t know how to drive, and some of these people go on to sell their used tires. Every time a car tire scrapes against a curb, rock, or another obstacle, the sidewall of the tire is weakened. The sidewall is an important yet often overlooked indicator of tire health. Inspect used car tires for undamaged sidewalls. Even if there are no punctures or tears, a sidewall with scuffs can indicate internal damage.

Check The Tires’ Age

Knowing how old a tire actually is is just as important as knowing what condition it is in. Luckily, all tires are marked with a tire identification code imprinted into the sidewall. Check with a tire’s manufacturer to determine how to read these codes; a good rule of thumb is to take the last numbers in the code and assume these to be the year the tire was made. Don’t buy any used tires over five years old.

Check For Dents, Bubbles, Or Uneven Wear

Sometimes tires can become damaged from within due to defects or incorrect installation. Even though these tires might not show signs of any punctures or external damage, the inside of the tire is just as important as the outside. Any used tire with a bubble, misshapen area, or dent is likely to blow out without warning; stay far away from used tires with any physical defects. Uneven tread wear is also a sign that the tire has not been mounted properly in the past and has likely suffered internal stresses.

Look Up the UTQG Rating

Every tire is given a Uniform Tire Quality Grade Standards (UTQG) rating upon manufacture. This rating is sometimes called the treadwear rating, and lets consumers know how quickly a tire’s treads are likely to wear out. While race car tires have a UTQG of less than one hundred, most consumer vehicles sport tires with a rating of four hundred or higher. The higher the number, the longer the tire’s life. However, manufactures can sometimes inflate these numbers. Read consumer reviews carefully when assessing used tires’ UTQG rating.

Examine The Tires For Signs Of Aging

Some used tires might look to be in good shape at first glance while being quite old. Used tires are known to sit dormant for months or years; if they are not stored in proper conditions, they can dry out or age rapidly. Look carefully at every inch of a used tire for signs of dry rot. Dry rot shows itself as small hairline cracks between the treads of the tires or sometimes in the sidewall. Dry rot reduces the overall strength of a tire’s rubber, making it much more prone to blowouts or punctures.

Check Out The Beads

While most consumers know to look at the treads on tires when examining their condition, the bead of a tire is just as important to a tire’s overall health. The bead is the inner edge of the tire that forms a seal against the wheel. Tire beads are usually laced with metal cabling to ensure a consistent shape which allows for a better seal. When buying used tires, don’t forget to inspect the bead along with the rest of the tire.

Don’t Forget The Inside

While this tip sounds like an obvious one, it is surprising how many consumers never check the inside of used tires when considering a purchase. The inside of a tire, or liner, is the seal that helps a tire hold its air pressure. When evaluating new tires, look at the complete liner inside them. The liner should have no exposed metal or cords and should be completely intact. Never purchase any tires that have a damaged liner, as they can be highly dangerous.

Do Your Research

The best way to prevent buying faulty used tires is to do your research. When you find a set of tires that look safe upon inspection, don’t buy them right away. Go home and research the brand and model of tires, and read what other consumers have said. A used tire can be in excellent condition but be known to blow out after a certain number of miles. As with all goods, some brands are better than others. Know what you’re buying before purchasing any used tires.

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