Second Hand Tyres, Used Tyres and Part Worn Tyres
Why it’s never worth the risk
If you need to replace the wheels on your vehicle, second hand tyres may seem like a cheap and affordable option. The truth is, that while you may initially save a few dollars on purchase, used tyres have a shorter lifespan, come with a higher risk of life-threatening defects and, most importantly, using pre-worn tyres could place your life and the lives of others at risk.
But what are second hand tyres? What actually are the dangers of using them? And what’s the safest and most affordable alternative to second-hand tyres?
Keep reading to learn more.
What are second-hand tyres?
Second hand tyres are used tyres that have been removed from cars and resold. These tyres may have traveled thousands of kilometers and are often sold with as little as 50% of their original tread depth. Many second-hand or part-worn tyres are imported from all over the world where legal safety requirements range dramatically. This means that quality can vary dramatically from one tyre to the next.
Are second-hand tyres safe?
Second-hand tyres come with a catalog of risks and potential dangers. While there are checks that should be conducted for the sale of every part-worn tyre, there are some tyre dangers that can’t be spotted easily.
The dangers of used tyres
Surface damage
The most obvious problem with second-hand tyres is surface damage. This can include cuts, cracks, blisters, and bulges, all of which are extremely dangerous.
Treading carefully
Another common issue with used tyres is reduced tread depth. Adequate tread depth is crucial for safe driving, effective acceleration, smooth cornering, and sufficient braking. Over time, tyres wear out, traction is reduced, and the risk of an accident becomes much higher. Second-hand tyres can impact your brake time and reduce your grip on the roads – this makes them a risky option for tyre replacement.
Invisible dangers
It’s rare that you will ever know the full history of a used tyre which means there is always the risk of irreparable invisible damage within the tyre’s structure. Tyres have more than 30 components, and some damage cannot be seen. While all tyres are required to meet a set of regulations, presale testing is unable to check deeper structural damage within the tyre.
In 2017, a TyreSafe survey found:
- 97% of part-worn tyres were being sold illegally
- 34% being offered for sale had dangerous, potentially life-threatening, defects.
Is it cheaper to buy second hand tyres?
Taking a $$ per mm approach to your tyres...
You may think that second hand tyres are a cheaper option. And while you will likely pay less upfront, the long-term cost will be higher.
Why? Because they are used tyres. This means they will have less tread left and will need to be replaced much more quickly than a new tyre. When considering your options, it’s much more sensible to take a cost per mm approach to your tyres. By this, we mean look at how much the tyre costs and how much tread you have left. Remembering that new tyres come with around 8mm of tread, second hand tyres come with as little as 3mm remaining and the legal requirement in Australia is 1.5mm. Once you look at it this way, an affordably priced new tyre seems much more appealing.
Are second-hand tyres worth it?
When you consider the reduced quality and the safety risks, this one is a no brainer. Second-hand tyres are never worth the risk. At Jax Tyres we provide a range of cheap and budget new tyres so that you never have to gamble with your life or the lives of others when you’re on the road.
Ready to find new tyres for your vehicle? We’ve made it easy online.
Selling part-worn, used, or second-hand tyres in Australia isn’t illegal. However, they still have to meet specific requirements.
Primarily, the tyres must meet the legal minimum tread depth requirement of 1.6mm. Anything below that, whether they are ‘‘new’’ or ‘‘second-hand’’, is illegal. New tyres have between 6-8mm of tread depth.
Furthermore, before you can sell a tyre in Australia, it must meet ADR23 guidelines, which specify the labelling and construction standards of tyres fitted to Australian cars. They must meet several test standards, including resistance to bead unseating, tyre strength, endurance and high-speed performance.
Australian laws regarding second-hand tyres seem to air on the side of ‘‘buyer beware’’. The quality of a tyre depends on various factors, like how hot the environment is and how long they’ve been sitting around. So, while most road transport associations around the country advise owners to check the age of the tyres, they don’t suggest at what point to reject the tyre.
We recommend you always purchase your second-hand tyres from a reputable source and get them checked out by a professional.
There is no fixed length of time that a second-hand tyre will last. This is due to the risks associated with purchasing used tyres for which the service history is uncertain or unknown. Used tyres may have been exposed to improper service or have damage that could eventually lead to a tyre disablement, which may not be evident when first inspected.
Not all tyre damage or conditions that can lead to a tyre disablement are easily detectable. For instance, improper repairs or damage to a tyre’s inner liner can only be observed through an inspection of the inside of the tire, demounted from the wheel.
Before application, a qualified tyre service professional should inspect a used tire's internal and external condition. Suppose a used vehicle is purchased and the history of the tires is unknown. In that case, we recommend that the tyres be inspected by a tyre service professional. Chat to your local JAX professional about your second-hand tyres.
Part worn tyres are the same as second-hand tyres.
Second-hand tyres are used tyres that have been removed from other vehicles and resold for much cheaper than brand new tyres. A part-worn or second-hand tyre can come from anywhere. While a tyre must meet ADR23 guidelines before you can sell it in Australia, this doesn’t detail the use of second-hand tyres. A tyre is considered “used’’ once applied to a vehicle and put into service.
Chat to your friendly JAX representative to find the right, quality tyre to suit your needs.
