Why doesn't Steve's Auto Repair
Sell Used or Substandard Tires?
Yes, used tires may be less expensive but there is a reason why Steve's Auto Repair and Tire does not sell used tires, and the primary reason is that...
We Care About Your Safety!
The used tire industry is not regulated and this means that quality is highly variable. The tire industry does not recommend using tires that are over 6 years old due to the decomposition of the tire's materials. All tires are stamped at the factory with the date it was manufactured,
so check the last four digits to find out the week and year the tire was made.
Storage conditions are also unknown when tires are not purchased new and sunlight, humidity and other harsh weather conditions can cause a tire’s compounds to break down over time. Tires are registered only to the original owner and thus if there is a recall only the original owner will be informed. The way that the previous owner handled the tires is also of particular importance. If driven for extended periods of time while underinflated or at very high speeds this can cause later tire failure.
When tires are "cheap" it is because they use less steel in the construction of the tire, hence making the tire not as strong as a higher end tire. Think of it this way... If you lay a piece of burlap up to the light, you can generally see the wide weaving of the thread and can see a lot of light coming through it. If you hold up a piece of cotton fabric, you cannot usually see the light coming through the threads because it is tightly woven together, meaning it took more material to make it that way. The same is true with tires.
You may pay more initially for a good quality tire, but this all plays a factor in to how long you want the tire to last, what kind of road driving comfort you expect, and how quiet you want the tires to be. It is likely two sets of cheap tires will be worn through for every quality set that is purchased. In the end, we at Steve's believe there is simply no price as a driver you can put on the safety of yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle.