Used Winter Tires: Save Big and Stay Safe

DIY

Wheels and Tires

Jim Motavalli

November 03, 2020

Jim Motavalli

November 03, 2020

How much can you save by buying used winter tires?

The price of used winter tires can reduce your cost by 50 percent or more compared to new tires.

It’s best to buy four matched tires. You don’t want to mix up sizes and manufacturers. Here’s an example of how much you can save. A set of four winter tires mounted on Audi Q7 wheels (and used one season) - opens in new window or tab. are $800 on eBay.

Compare that to about $1,950 for a new winter-tire package including 19-inch ALUTEC DriveX wheels and Michelin Pilot winter tires at a competing tire store.

Four used winter tires mounted on Audi Q7 wheels — These used winter tires are mounted on Audi Q7 wheels. A new wheel/tire package is likely to be twice that.

Here’s another bargain on used snow tires via eBay: Four Sport Edition 17-inch wheels and Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires - opens in new window or tab., used one season, for a BMW 2-Series can be had $795. Again, that’s about half the cost of new winter tires.

These used Bridgestone Blizzaks on Sport Edition 17-inch wheels have a $795 asking price.

The second-best option is to have a matching pair upfront and another in the back.

eBay offers thousands of sets - opens in new window or tab. of used winter tires for sale. We recommend buying tires already mounted on wheels appropriate for your car. That reduces the hassle in the fall big time. You won’t need to get the winter tires mounted on your existing rims.

Shipping costs are not as bad as you might think, given the weight of the items. It’s about $100 for a tire-wheel set.

Are Used Winter Tires Safe?

When buying used tires online, take a close look at the photos. Most vendors show images that give a pretty good sign of tread depth. And you can also ask the vendor to do a penny test with photographic evidence. Ask if the tires have plugs or patches, and reject any that do. Also, reject any with rubber chunks missing.

Tread Wear

These Pirellis were used just one season on a 2017 Golf R.

There should be even tread wear across each tire’s width. There should be tread depth that’s at least 1.6 millimeters (.06 inches).

It works this way - opens in new window or tab.: The top of Lincoln’s head should disappear between the tire’s ribs. If it does, there’s still at least 2/32 of an inch of remaining tread. eBay has tire depth gauges - opens in new window or tab. to keep track of ongoing wear.

Sidewalls

You’ll also want to look closely at the sidewalls. Close-ups are useful for cracks and wear that are almost as concerning as reduced tread. Any sign of a steel-belt poking its head out is an automatic reject.

Read The Numbers

The numbers on the sidewall show the size and age of the tire.

Since 2000, the Department of Transportation requires tire manufacturers to list the approximate date of their creation. You will see the letters DOT followed by some codes ending in four digits. So “5117” decodes as tires from 2017, created in the 51st week of the year.

Forget tires made before 2015. Any tires more than five years old are questionable because the rubber compound hardens and gets dry.

Just the Used Winter Tires: No Wheels

There’s a weight advantage in buying just the tires. It’s possible to get free shipping on these 2,500-mile 19-inch Pirelli winter tires. The last owner used them for one season on a 2017 Volkswagen Golf R. The Buy-It-Now price is $550.

“They cost about $1,200 new, and I can provide a receipt upon request,” says the vendor, who says they have about 10,000 miles left on them.

Or how about just $100 (plus $139 shipping) for four 19-inch Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 Performance winter tires that have only 1,500 miles on them? They were used one season on a 2020 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe.

These Michelin performance winter tires were only used one season on a 2020 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe.

Proper Storage of Used Winter Tires

This seller of used winter tires shows exactly much tread is left. — This seller of used winter tires shows the remaining tread.

If you buy a set of winter tires, you’ll need to store them properly while they’re off the car. Keep them out of hot, wet places and direct sunlight. Don’t store them vertically. A neat horizontal stack is better.

After a long season of use, your tires are going to be dirty and coated with salt and dirt. If possible, wash them with automotive soap and water. Let them dry, and then use a screwdriver to flick out any embedded stones or foreign matter.

Storing them in opaque plastic bags, airtight if possible, is ideal.

When the leaves start to fall, and it’s time to mount the tires, a good aftermarket trolley jack makes the work go faster. eBay has jacks and jack stands - opens in new window or tab. at attractive prices.

Do You Need Snow Tires?

In a word: yes. In parts of Canada, winter tires are the law. They provide for better control and traction from December 1 to March 15. In warmer weather, people store them in tire hotels - opens in new window or tab..

In the US, winter tires are the driver's choice. Far too many people think that “all-season” tires are all they need. But as we’ve cautioned before - opens in new window or tab.:

Once the mercury drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, if you aren’t riding on a dedicated winter tire, then you’re not only putting yourself at risk, but you could also be endangering those around you.

Winter tires are not exactly the same as snow tires. In other words, you are not excused from the chore of winter tire shopping if you aren’t regularly fording through a couple feet of snow on the way to work. Cold temperatures can be just as dangerous as driving through snow. And all-seasons don’t offer the same level of safety as a dedicated winter set of rubber.

Another common belief is that having all-wheel drive means you don’t need winter tires, but that’s wrong. AWD is great for snow but not so great for ice.

As Matthew Edmonds, vice president at The Tire Rack explained to us - opens in new window or tab.:

All-wheel drive cars do a great job of distributing traction for acceleration, almost equivalent of what a winter tire could provide. The problem is with braking and cornering. The car can only do what the tires that create contact with the ground make possible.

The wide availability of used winter tires for sale on eBay means that cost won’t stand in the way of safety.

Shop winter tires - opens in new window or tab.

About the author

Jim Motavalli

Jim Motavalli is a contributor to the New York Times, Barron's, NPR’s Car Talk, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, among others. He is the author of nine books, including two—Forward Drive and High Voltage—about electric cars and why they’re important. He is a longtime radio host on WPKN-FM, and a public speaker on environmental topics.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.