Are Second Hand Tyres Worth It?

Are you looking for second hand tyres near you in Australia? You may be under the impression that second-hand tyres are the best option for your vehicle due to the low cost. But can you trust them to be 100% safe and reliable? The answer is no. Let's find out why.

 

What are Second Hand tyres?

2nd hand tyres are used tyres taken from other vehicles for reuse.

They are not "recycled tyres", meaning they were not made from scratch using crumb rubber or recycled rubber but are usually just stripped from other cars, cleaned and then resold.

Most 2nd hand tyres near you originally come from other countries and are considered highly cheap tyres when resold versus buying brand new, quality tyres.

But because they are not new, you'll have no way of knowing how far they have travelled and how much of their original tread depth is left.

 

Are Second Hand tyres illegal in Australia?

It is not illegal to sell or use part-worn, secondhand tires in Australia, and a quick Google search will uncover vendors of cheap second hand tyres near you.

However, the legal minimum tread depth requirement is 1.6mm, and anything less than this is illegal.

Used, cheap car tyres often only have the legal minimum amount of tread left, which is very dangerous because the lower the tread, grip is compromised, making it harder for the tyres and wheels to stop your vehicle.

 

Is retreading an option?

According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australia produces around 466,000 tonnes of End-Of-Life tyres annually or roughly about 25 million tyres. A handful of organisations, led by Tyre Stewardship Australia, also exist to help develop viable markets for tyre-derived products to save valuable resources and dispose of tyre waste properly.

One of the ways used tyres near you are revived is by retreading, or the process of attaching renewed tread and sidewall rubber to the casing or the "frame" of a used tyre.

Though retreading is an accepted practice in both the tyre and automotive industry, especially for larger tyres used in construction and mining, many safety experts are not keen on retreading for passenger cars.

Finally, tyres that have been altered must say so.

For example, if it's been retreaded, there should be a mark on the tyre that states "RETREAD/REMOULD", and its minimum speed rating (of 140 km/h) and its original casing's minimum rating (180 km/h) must be on the side of the tyre.

If you have purchased one without the required label, it did not pass any safety standards.

 

The disadvantages of buying Second Hand tyres

1. They are more expensive in the long run.

You'll replace your second-hand tyres much sooner than newer, top quality tyres.

2. It's time-consuming.

It will take longer to search for a used tyre for your vehicle because you'll have to check if it is still -at least visibly - viable versus a brand new tyre with manufacturer warranties. You also have to consider the correct tyre size when looking for second hand tyres if you have existing steel or alloy wheels on your car.

3. Previous repairs are not always evident.

There is no guarantee that the used tyre you purchased was never involved in previous accidents.

4. You have no way of knowing its maintenance history.

Part worn tyres, whether they're SUV tyres, car tyres, light truck tyres, or other vehicle tyres, can look immaculate inside and out. Do they fit and balance properly? Did the previous owner get regular wheel alignments done? It is almost impossible to tell its actual condition without knowing its maintenance history.

 

Benefits of Buying New Instead of Used Tyres

 

• They're brand new!


• You'll be aware of the condition of each tyre.


• Your tyres will wear down at the same rate.


• Your tyres will last longer.


• No need to worry about previous safety risks.

 

Are Second Hand, used or part worn tyres worth it?

NO. Remember, second hand tyres equals second hand safety. You and your family deserve better. To ensure their safety, always buy new, never-been-used tyres.

At Tyroola, we've made it easy for you to find the world's biggest and best tyre brands, whatever your budget and driving needs, so you don't have to compromise your safety. Buy your new tyres here today.