[Surferdude]

Are part-worn, used, or second-hand tyres safe? | Practical Motoring

[Surferdude]

The above article gives good advice and some interesting information.

I'd always be worried about what extremes the tyre had been subjected to.

Two which come to mind are,

Internal impact damage to cords.
Consistently run at low pressures or overloaded.

[beerman]

 "A test between new and used tyres by the UK’s TyreSafe revealed drastically increased wet road braking distances from around 90km/h. The new tyre with 8mm of tread stopped in 25.9m while the used tyre with just 1.6mm of tread took 37.8m to stop".

What a stupid argument, a new tyre worn to 1.6mm depth is just as likley to take the same stopping distance. I fail to see why anyone would buy a second hand tyre with 1.6m m of tread as the cost of fitting it alone would exceed the economical life of the tyre.

If you want to compare apples with apples get a new tyre and compare it with one with 6mm of tread, but that does not make a good story. Nor does comparing a second hand premium brand with a new budget asian tyre (Diamondbacks excluded) from reading reviews there are plenty of new tyres coming into the country that are more dangerous than a premium second hand one.

There are risks associated with buying used tyres, but there are plenty of good arguments too, including the one glossed over by the writer, economics. I would argue a vehicle is far safer on a good second hand tyre, than one that has gone through the rubber and is now running on the steel.

Not disputing the general argument,

[mickd]

Only used to buy 2nd hand when unemployed as a teen.  No rear brakes was a much bigger hazard. Got to be selective as there are just as variables as when buying NEW .
Buy only reputable brands now days- really do prefer Bridgestone. 
Firestone went on Challenger, good tyres good all round grip.

As far as buying 2nd hand car - "so you have 2nd hand tyres " - WTF !.
Everything is 2nd hand  FFS !.
I bought 2nd hand alloys for Santa - obvious heavy scrapes - yes / no? 
No - tryes removed,  rims spun & checked by self , then balanced.
More than 40g - "get another one mate ".
They thought I was strict,  but were happy to oblige.

[Surferdude]

Yep. There's some rubbish in the story but some good stuff too like the different legal tread depth in Germany.

And a second hand tyre on a vehicle 30 years agonist a whole different story to one today.

My comments about the tyres history are the important part.
If i buy a second hand car, unless the tyres are nearly new, they're gone.