Are Used Tires Worth It?

Used tires get a bad reputation, mostly because of shops that sell whatever they can find. Bought correctly, a used tire is one of the best values in car maintenance.

Check tread depth first. Anything under 4/32" is near the end of its usable life. A good used tire should have well over half its original tread remaining.

Check the age. The DOT code on the sidewall ends in four digits — week and year of manufacture. Rubber hardens with time, and in the Nevada heat a tire older than about six years is a gamble regardless of tread.

Check for repairs and damage. Interior patches aren't automatically disqualifying, but sidewall bulges, exposed cord, and dry-rot cracking are.

That inspection is exactly what we do on every tire before it goes on the rack. If you want affordable rubber without the risk, C.A Tires stocks inspected used tires in most common sizes.