5 things to consider before buying used tires

The used tire market in the US is largely unregulated, so drivers can lose money on dishonest sales. To make matters worse, these deals can quickly lead to crashes if the driver is left with unsafe tires. At Chapel Hill Tire, we prioritize safety when it comes to our customers. As your local tire experts, we wanted to give you an idea of ​​the dangers of buying used tires. 

Used Tires: Worn Tread and Tire Mismatches

Tires need to be changed frequently because the tread wears out all the time. It depends on your car and how you drive. When you install a used set of tires on your vehicle, you inherit the previous driver's wear pattern and the tread mismatches that it caused. The tread is at the core of tire functionality and safety, making it a major factor in tire selection.

Tire Age: Are Used Tires Safe?

Even when you find a used set of tires with a thick tread, chances are they are old. The older your tires are, the more dangerous they become. When a tire is 10+ years old, it is considered completely unsafe, even if it has never been ridden. This is because the rubber undergoes a process called thermal oxidative aging. Exposure to oxygen causes rubber to age, causing tires to become unstable. However, these tires often look tough and new, making it easy to fool drivers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 738 people died in 2017 tire-related incidents alone. The used tire market is full of shops selling unused tires that are too old to be reliable. 

Tire Warranty: Bargain Guarantee

Like new cars, many new tires are covered by a manufacturer's warranty. This will prevent you from getting a "lemon" that is not built properly. When you buy a used tire, this warranty becomes void as the manufacturers are no longer tied to the sale. 

Tire Protection Plan: Protecting Your Wallet

For all other tire problems, many buyers opt for a tire protection plan. When you buy used tires from a batch (or even new tires from dealers or distributors), you may be missing out on this tire safety. 

For example, Chapel Hill Tire's Tire Crash Protection Plan includes a 3-year full repair and replacement of any problems your tires may have. This can save you money on tire repairs, maintenance, and replacements. 

Tire History: Are Used Tires Reliable?

Simply put, you don't know where the old tire was. An unregulated US tire industry could leave customers vulnerable to a host of potential problems and bad deals. You may buy a used set of tires only to run into frequent and costly problems. This could make drivers pay more in the long run, missing out on other benefits of new tyres. 

If you run into a problem with your used tires, you may fail a safety check, require a tire changer, or find yourself needing a tire replacement quickly. 

Chapel Hill Tires | New tires near me

Instead of falling prey to a risky used tire deal, visit Chapel Hill Tire. We offer a best price guarantee, coupons and special offers to ensure you get the lowest price on your new tires. Use our tire finder to shop online, or visit one of our 8 stores in the Triangle area (between Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham and Carrborough) to get started today!

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