Buying Used Tyres

spaceboy

jase1 wrote: »

I'm not sure whether you mean it's unlikely the car was written off, or unlikely the tyre would have been damaged in a crash.

The former is arguable, but the latter -- are you seriously saying that knowledge that a tyre had been on a car that had been in a smash wouldn't put you off?

That is what I'm saying. You do realise that most write-offs are not because they've been a really bad accidents but because the car is worth less than it would cost to repair.

Now, even if it had been in a bad smash, in what way would that affect the tyre that you could not see by visual inspection?

2sides2everystory

harveybobbles wrote: »

So them tyres then get sold over here. They are pressure tested and perfect.

Pressure tested? How exactly? And concluding what exactly? Perfect? How were they removed from the original rims? In perfect ways, do we guess? Ehm ...

If you pick up and refit anything made of used rubber especially if you do not know where it has been then you are surely playing the odds

Hammyman

spaceboy wrote: »

I have bought tyres on Gumtree and ebay before. It's fine as long as you check they arent really old. There should be a DOT code on the sidewall and the last 4 digits tell you when the tyre was made. Try to get tyres that are as new as possible, try to avoid tyres over 6 years old.

And you can guarantee they've never been kerbed or driven up a kerb fast - either of which damages the steel re-enforcing bands, or the brakes on the car seized so the tyre has ended up so hot there is blistering between the carcass and the laminated layer which can lead to tyre delamination?

jase1

Hitting a kerb at 50mph doesn't always cause visible damage!

And most write-offs that don't involve bad accidents are with cars that aren't worth much = older = cheaper tyres = false economy to buy used.

Advocates of secondhand tyres use arguments like this, while simultaneously mentioning the expense of newer, low-profile tyres. Doesn't work.

If you are able to buy a reasonable budget tyre for your car for around £40 or less (i.e. most cars on the road) there is little point in buying second-hand tyres.

Hammyman

spaceboy wrote: »

When you buy a used car do you stick new tyres on it right away?

When I buy a used car, I can see the wheels the tyres are fitted to and make a judgement call.

This is an alloy damaged by a pothole. When you take the tyre off it, it will look perfectly normal (the tyre, that is). Judging by the damage done to the alloy, how much internal invisible damage do you think has been done to the tyre?

Hammyman

harveybobbles wrote: »

We get our tyres from Germany where they have different laws.

If you are involved in a crash, you have to change all the tyres on the car. Even if you replaced all 4 last week. So them tyres then get sold over here. They are pressure tested and perfect.

So let me get that right. You know these tyres are most likely from vehicles involved in an accident and your yardstick for judging whether or not they're OK is the fact that they manage to stay inflated?
:eek::eek:

SilasMarner

spaceboy wrote: »

When you buy a used car do you stick new tyres on it right away?

Yes. Please don't comprimise your safety with unsafe tyres. However, if you have a blow out on a tyre with an unknown history then please swerve in the opposite direction to me. Many thanks.

harveybobbles

Hammyman wrote: »

So let me get that right. You know these tyres are most likely from vehicles involved in an accident and your yardstick for judging whether or not they're OK is the fact that they manage to stay inflated?
:eek::eek:

The tyres could have come off a car which was deemed to have low tread, as in Germany they have different laws on tyre tread depth, so they often get replaced at 4/5mm, which is less than 50% worn....

bigjl

jase1 wrote: »

Hitting a kerb at 50mph doesn't always cause visible damage!

I think you need to rethink that particular statement, perhaps remove the zero, As obvious damage can be caused to a tyre at walking pace.


As far as used tyres goes, I used to fit them in the distant past as I had an Omega Diesel that took the same size tyres as the local Traffic Plod, they change both tyres after a puncture and so I had plenty of good used Michelins at the place I used.


I would fit a decent pair of matched used tyres if I was selling a car and the tyres where worn out, common when buying at auction, but I am picky and check the tyres myself, as it isn't uncommon for those with lower morals put rather rubbish tyres on as the punter doesn't check, things like uneven wear and inner sidewall damage.

I would rather sell a car on with haf decent used tyres than worn out illegal tyres, and only a fool would fit brand new tyres on a car that is for sale, it is business suicide, though CarCraft fit new tyres, I once wandered round there a few years ago and noticed a 3 yr old WRX with a pair of LingLongs on the front, actually I would rather have a set of part worn Bridgestones or Avons.


When the saving between part worn and new isn't substantial then new budgets it is, but the car they are going on must be considered, like the example above cars with a bit of oomph aren't the kind of cars I would fit budgets. Though the Nankang NS 2 is a decent enough tyre, so sometimes budgets are better than people expect, but LongLongs!, No way.

birkee

spaceboy wrote: »

Unlikely. How?

Have you SEEN some of the wheels on crashed cars?