Selling used tires

[George Schweikle]

In later years I have replaced the tires on my motorhomes at the recommended intervals. The old tires always have plenty of usable tread and I have heard of people selling these; maybe for farm use, other non-highway use, or whatever. I have never explored this issue with a tire dealer when buying new tires and wonder how, if, or when, others have addressed this topic since this could lower the cost of replacing tires.

One could consider the moral conundrum of selling potentially subject to fail tires when there is the possibility that someone will again use them on a vehicle to be driven on the road. Or, just adopt the philosophy of "out of sight, out of mind"?.

[Old Scout]

Well, don't feel too morally concerned about all this. Most, if not all, tire dealers won't touch anything over 3-4 years old. So, primary target is local truckers or farmers who will use them for trailer applications. They will get years of service out of them with little or no risk to the public. However, not all RV tire sizes are as desirable as others for these applications, eg, 22.5 or 24s, 11R are really good, 295 80R, not so much. I have gotten from $75 to $150 a piece for my "gently" used tires. I sleep well every night.

[OldWEB]

I see it as they are buying used tires and there is even a manufacturers date on them so they would know what they are getting. How or where they use them should not bother a seller.
I sold one set that way, slight cracks in them, but I made sure the buyer knew they were 11 years old. He wanted them for some large trailer.

[TXiceman]

When I changed tires on my 5er, I found a fellow that had a farm and gladly accepted my tires as he said they would work great for his hay wagon. By getting rid of the tires in this manner, I did not have to pay the "tire disposal fee" to the tire dealer. He met me at the tire shop and loaded up the tires as they came off the trailer.

By not paying the fee, I guess you could say that I did get paid for the old tires.

Ken

[LETMGROW]

When I replaced the tires on my coach I asked a couple farmer friends if they had a use for my 19.5 tires. Nothing they had could use these tires. I refused to sell these tires to anyone who would run them on the highway. If they weren't good enough for me why would they be good for anyone else? A blowout on a loaded trailer can be as dangerous as it would be on anything else. Someone following that trailer may swerve around trying to avoid the remnants of a blown tire and be a victim or take someone else out in the process.
I opted to pay the shop where I bought my new tires and they sent them for recycling. The tires are probably part of a new blacktop road somewhere now. This shop has been in business since 1954. The only "Used" tires they will sell are the new take offs where new vehicle customers want to upgrade the OEM tires to a better grade tire or more aggressive tire for the conditions we experience up here in the wintertime. All season tires up here are for all seasons except late fall, all winter and early spring.

[OldWEB]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

When I replaced the tires on my coach I asked a couple farmer friends if they had a use for my 19.5 tires. Nothing they had could use these tires. I refused to sell these tires to anyone who would run them on the highway. If they weren't good enough for me why would they be good for anyone else? A blowout on a loaded trailer can be as dangerous as it would be on anything else. Someone following that trailer may swerve around trying to avoid the remnants of a blown tire and be a victim or take someone else out in the process.
I opted to pay the shop where I bought my new tires and they sent them for recycling. The tires are probably part of a new blacktop road somewhere now. This shop has been in business since 1954. The only "Used" tires they will sell are the new take offs where new vehicle customers want to upgrade the OEM tires to a better grade tire or more aggressive tire for the conditions we experience up here in the wintertime. All season tires up here are for all seasons except late fall, all winter and early spring.

HA! and I can continue this 'story' and say that the someone was on their way to rob a bank and eventually kill 12 people.... So I may have saved some lives!

[Cat320]

The last time I got new tires, the tire guy said they sell them to 18 wheeler operators to put on their trailers.

[igave]

Truckers buy them here, put them on their trailers and put tens of thousands of miles on them in much worse use than I ever did. Although I stick with the manufacture’s recommendations, it makes you wonder if the engineers made the recommendations or their attorneys did.

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by OldWEB

HA! and I can continue this 'story' and say that the someone was on their way to rob a bank and eventually kill 12 people.... So I may have saved some lives!

However anyone wants to feel about it. I won't have to live with a guilt complex all the rest of my life just for a few bucks.
If I could get thousands of miles more out of these tires why am I replacing them anyway?

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by Cat320

The last time I got new tires, the tire guy said they sell them to 18 wheeler operators to put on their trailers.

Originally Posted by igave

Truckers buy them here, put them on their trailers and put tens of thousands of miles on them in much worse use than I ever did. Although I stick with the manufacture’s recommendations, it makes you wonder if the engineers made the recommendations or their attorneys did.

We are maybe hitting some of our own Alligator's on the road
The big commercial tire dealer in my home town will not sell them for on highway use and a liability factor, gives them to local friends for off road.

[Crasher]

I replaced tires at 5 years and sold the takeoffs to a seasonal trucker. Because I had eight 295/80/22.5 tires, he put all of them on a trailer. I just like having tires no older than 5 years, plus they bring a decent price thus reducing the cost of new. If we hadn't sold the coach, I would do the same in two more years and probably to the same trucker.

[Ray,IN]

I tried to sell my 9 yr old BFG G670 275/70R22.5 tires to anyone who wanted them for the disposal fee, $6 each.

Numerous independent driveway stone haulers told that DOT would ticket any commercial truck with tires over 10 yrs old. Finally had to pay the disposal fee.

[PanJH]

I get new tires about 2 years ago. Instead of paying the disposal fee to teh tire dealer, I told them to load them into my toad which is a pickup truck. I got them home, put an ad
on Marketplace and a trucker bought all 8 of them for $100 ea. to use on his trailers. He was happy, I was happy and had $800 in my pocket.

[desertdd]

It seems there are farmers using them for their tag axles on their grain hauling trucks.