The economics of part-worn tyres

motorguy

I've never really seen the benefit of fitting second hand tyres - other than if you're just about to sell the car.

The odds of you getting a matching pair with matching tread levels are quite slim, so to me you end up compromising your safety somewhere along the line. Of course, this is the internet, so everyone who buys second hand tyres will always be getting a pair of matching contis.

I'd rather have new good quality budget tyres on my car, than two well used second hand ones.

A mate of mine just bought a 2005 Audi a4 TDI Sport. It needed 4 tyres. Granted, he will probably sell it on quite soon, but he rumaged around and got four second hand ones for it - all different brands, all different tread depths. Can help but feel that wasnt a good idea...

Road_Hog

jase1 wrote: »

And, if all these 4mm tyres are coming from Germany and are perfectly OK, where are all the 6-7mm tyres coming from? Surely the only reasonable source for these in any great number must be cars that have been written off?

The tyres come from three sources, imports, written off and scrapped cars. Which is why a friend of mine runs his secondhand tyre business from a car breakers' yard. As for secondhand tyres with plenty of tread on them, that is because people don't decide when their car is to be scrapped by waiting for tyres to be near bald.

For most people, a big repair bill or a failed MOT is the time for their car to be scrapped. Secondhand tyres has become popular again due to the influx of East Europeans

bigjl

Used tyres can be good value if the car needs an expensive tyre, I used to fit Michelin Pilots in 225/55/16 I think it was, onto my Omega as it had Elite alloys, new Michelins where £125, over 10 years ago, the local traffic Police had a policy of any tyre with a puncture was not repaired and the tyres where replaced in new pairs, so lots of good low mileage tyres, they where between £25 and £35, the higher priced ones where like new, so in that case it was a good idea, also if you have a car to sell that needs 4 tyres then it is better to spend £100 than spend £250 as you are selling the car anywhay, but part worns make less sense if you are keeping the car and it takes a standard size like a 205/55/16, a good used one is about £30, and is usually half worn in a common size like that, a new tyre like a Toyo Proxes T1R is £71 at Elite a new Michelin Primacy HP is £84 at Costco, a budget around £50, so the part worn makes less economic sense.

However if it is a choice of keeping your car legal and you can only afford £30 then there is a definate good reason to fit one, yes it mal last less time, but it will keep you on the right side of the law.

King_Nothing

I'd never put 2nd hand tyres on my car, I value my safety more, so I'm willing to pay the £125 a corner it is for my tyres.

liam8282

Putting part worn tyres on my car, I have done and would happily do so again.

However, I use the following site, which in my experience has been the cheapest. Basically it seems to be an online retailer which uses National Tyres to fit the tyres, it is also cheaper than them.

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/

Comparing garage prices and online prices makes a big difference when buying tyres. If I had to pay £100+ for a tyre when walking in off the street for a new tyre, compared to £40 pw, I would always go for the pw. But if I could find a tyre online, new for say £60 I would buy the new.

mikey72

King_Nothing wrote: »

I'd never put 2nd hand tyres on my car, I value my safety more, so I'm willing to pay the £125 a corner it is for my tyres.

How many people do you know who have been hurt by second hand tyres?

bigjl

King_Nothing wrote: »

I'd never put 2nd hand tyres on my car, I value my safety more, so I'm willing to pay the £125 a corner it is for my tyres.

So a tyre that has been removed from a Police traffic car due to operational policy rather than damage is not safe?

If you read my post you will see how I justify using used tyres in certain contexts.

Obviously if you think spending the extra then good for you, I see no economic advantage in missing out on the first 2000 miles of a tyres life.

If it is a choice between four almost new Michelin Pilots and four twice as expensive chinese ditch finders then I know which I would chose.


I take it you change all your tyres for brand new when you buy a car either new or used they all come fitted with used tyres when you leave the showroom. Different levels of used, but used all the same.

bigjl

liam8282 wrote: »

Putting part worn tyres on my car, I have done and would happily do so again.

However, I use the following site, which in my experience has been the cheapest. Basically it seems to be an online retailer which uses National Tyres to fit the tyres, it is also cheaper than them.

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/

Comparing garage prices and online prices makes a big difference when buying tyres. If I had to pay £100+ for a tyre when walking in off the street for a new tyre, compared to £40 pw, I would always go for the pw. But if I could find a tyre online, new for say £60 I would buy the new.

Prices seem much the same as Blackcircles etc.

But again in my current size, 205/55/16 EliteDirect and Costco are cheaper on the same tyres, over £20 a set, and there is the hastle of waiting for delivery then finding the place where they have to be fitted, then waiting for them to be fitted.

I just go to Elite or Costco, both a 5 minute drive and have my tyres fitted as I wait.

I may just be lucky with the tyre my car uses, but my wifes tyre size is also cheaper at Costco and Elite.

I suppose what you can gather form my post is that shopping around is still relevant despite all the internet chatter about BlackCircles and similar.

Road_Hog

I use part worns if I have a puncture (don't tend to do repairs). Personally I can get new tyres (from my friend) at a good price, so if fitting a pair then I get new. But if I have a puncture and I'm only doing a corner, then I use part worn, instead of having one new and one old on the front or back.

Wh05apk

King_Nothing wrote: »

I'd never put 2nd hand tyres on my car, I value my safety more, so I'm willing to pay the £125 a corner it is for my tyres.

So if/when you buy a 2nd hand car do you replace all the tyes?