How to choose reliable used tires with mileage.

     Buying car tires has ceased to be a headache for drivers for a long time. Today, the question is only in the choice and desire to buy. The situation is such that there are no problems with the choice, but many people do not have the right thickness to buy a set of new tires every two or three years. Alternatively, you can consider offers, weigh all options, and buy used tires. 

                                Where we will buy. Potential risks.                                                      Used tires are cheaper than new ones. However, you need to remember once and for all - used tires with a wear level of more than 45-50% do not make sense to buy. Unless you need to get there somehow.

      Under the attractive price for a set of tires with mileage, anything can be hidden - from the seller's desire to get rid of an unnecessary set as soon as possible to the excellent condition of tires, of which there are a very large number on the secondary market. Here are the main supply channels of used tires to the secondary market:

1. Private sellers. For example, a person crashed or sold his car, a good set remained from it. This is the most harmless option. But after operation and especially after a road accident, there are no guarantees, a kind of lottery, especially if the buyer is not strong in the design and features of tires.

2. The business of companies selling used spare parts is completely different. Often such a store is responsible for the quality of the goods. It is in his best interest that the buyer is satisfied and does not make negative advertising for the company. A good store values its reputation and will not risk it because of an unfair deal.

Information about used tires

If we pay cash for a set of used tires, then we have the right to expect to receive certain information regarding the purchase, which is logical. Here's what you need to know for a safe transaction:

1. Why they sell. This question does not apply to shops and disassembly, but a private seller should ask about the reason for the sale. Especially if the price of used tires is too attractive. You need to be careful and carefully check the tires so as not to get a set of hidden defects into the load of the kit.

2. Year and month of rubber production. This can be found out easily, on the sidewall of the tire, the release date is encrypted in the form of four digits in an oval. If the entire set was released at the same time, this is an acceptable option. If not, the tires were removed from different cars, have different levels of wear, worked in different conditions, so it is unrealistic to predict their resource.

3. Repairs and damages. It is not difficult to deal with the simple wear of the tread. It is more difficult to find traces of repair if there was one. The most lost option is to restore the sidewall after a breakdown or cut. Such a tire cannot be operated, in extreme cases it can wait in the wings as a spare tire, but you cannot hope for it. External traces of restoration may not be visible, but there will definitely be a patch mark on the inner surface of the tire.

In addition, the patched tire is heavily balanced, and it is unknown how long it will take and when the seam will open. And as for pricing policy, everything is simple here. You just need to find out the price of a new set of a similar model and focus on 50-70% of the price, depending on the level of wear.

We inspect and check the used tire before buying

Even if the tire looks very decent, it does not mean that it is new. It is enough to measure the tread depth to find out the percentage of wear:

* the new tire has a tread height of about 8 -11 mm, depending on the type, it may be higher if the tire is mud or winter;

* 50% wear corresponds to a tread height of about 4-5 mm;

* a tire with a tread height of 1-2 mm is 95% worn out and unusable.

Studies have shown that at a speed of about 70 km/ h, a new tire contacts the road only 75% of the contact spot in comparison with a standing car. At the same speed, a tire with 50% wear has a contact spot of 55-57%. Worn rubber contacts only 15% of the spot at speed and the higher the speed, the smaller the contact spot with the road.

Surface inspection of a tire with mileage

We pay attention first of all to the uniformity of tire wear. The axial unevenness of the tread abrasion indicates malfunctions of the chassis of the car, but the radial unevenness will tell you that the tire itself is not balanced. Why? There can be three options:

1. Marriage from the factory.

2. Operation of a machine with an unbalanced wheel assembly.

3. A large patch on the sidewall or on the back of the support part of the tire.

After that, we look at the damage, cuts, scuffs, punctures and bullies. Especially on the sidewall and on the cord, the area of tire contact with the disc. If the tire is tubeless, we check the last moment especially carefully.

Examination with passion

If the tire showed itself well after the first inspection, we will examine it in more detail. Of course, it is better to entrust this to a specialist, and even better - to check a used tire with the help of a stand. Not everyone has this opportunity and not always, so we will check it ourselves.:

1. Traces of late. Ideally, they should not be at all. Small patches are allowed on the inside of the tire after repairing the puncture of the tread. However, such rubber will have to be carefully balanced together with the disc. Theoretically, a tire even with two small patches in the tread zone will show good mileage and will not cause problems to the owner if the balancing is carried out correctly.

2. Axial and radial runout. It's hard to check it by eye. A balancing stand will help here, and if it is not there, then we pay attention to the hernias on the sidewall. They are the ones that contribute to the formation of beating. You can't buy such tires, it's simply dangerous.

3. Patches of sealant. Sealing compounds have recently been used as a temporary measure. Unlike the traces of welding with raw rubber, such a patch weighs much more, and it is not always possible to balance the wheel with a sealant. There are traces of sealant on the inside - do not buy.

4. Microcracks. Over time, any rubber cracks. The material ages even when the wheels are not used after 5-6 years after release. The cracked sidewall will not last long, it will be able to work for a maximum of a year, then - as lucky.

The release date is indicated on the sidewall of the tire. The first two digits indicate the number of the week in the year, the last two indicate the year of issue. Ideally, the entire kit should have a single release date. Otherwise, it is impossible to predict the resource of tires.

Buying tires with mileage will help to save decently on maintenance, and if the rubber is brought from Europe, Japan or the USA, we will also get excellent quality, which is always lacking))).