Is it all right to buy used tires?

Used tires can pose significant safety risks as compared to new tires due to pre-existing wear and damage. Some types of damage are not obvious on visual inspection, and it is often difficult to determine if a used tire was the subject of a recall.

Though excessive or unusual tread wear on a used tire may visually indicate that it is unsafe, internal damage to the tire and wear due to age are often not visible at all. In addition, tires are registered to the original purchasers so that tire companies can inform them of recalls. Used tires are rarely, if ever, registered for recall purposes, so it is usually not possible for tire companies to inform their purchasers of recall events.