The Ups and Downs of Used Tires

Since most tires need to be replaced every few years, there are plenty of used tires lying around in junkyards and salvage yards. Think about the number of cars on the road today, and then consider that those cars need four tires replaced every five years. You begin to get the idea of how many used tires are created through the standard practices of regular tire maintenance. That doesn’t even take into account the tires on cars that aren’t drivable anymore.  

It may sound odd to think about buying used tires, but it really isn’t as scary as it sounds. There are used tire dealers who get their tires from cars that have been in accidents and are in great shape. Some used tires come from tire dealers who swap out standard tires for high performance or specialty tires. There are several sources for used tires, and the buying and selling of used tires that are in good shape keeps those tires from ending up in a landfill or taking up space in someone’s garage. Buying used tires can save you quite a bit of money, and it is very likely that the tires will last as long as a set of new tires.

There are several environmental hazards from having used tires lying around. The most severe problem with used tires is that they catch fire easily. Since much of the material in tires is made from oil products, burning tires are very difficult to put out. In fact, most fire departments believe it is easier to let the tires burn rather than try to extinguish them. Burning tires emit a toxic black smoke that can be dangerous for those in the general vicinity of the fire.

You can have your used tires recycled using new techniques. Specialty tire recycling factories can take the materials from old tires, melt them down and separate them, and create new tires from that used material. This is by far the best option for the environment, and it helps to save the rubber and petroleum resources that go into creating a new tire. Look online or in the local yellow pages for a tire recycler near you, and request that your old tires be sent for recycling when they are taken off of your car. Many tire shops have relationships with recyclers, and will be happy to send your tires for recycling.

There is quite a market for used tires that fit on specialty vehicles or perform specialty functions. Off road tires are the most popular in the used market, because they are so tough that they take a very long time to wear out. If someone chooses to switch to a regular four wheel drive tire, they may discard perfectly good off road tires that could be used by another driver. Used specialty tires can be substantially discounted from the price of new tires, and are a great investment.