Used Tires

I recently picked up a tire machine and I am getting a balancer as well. In my area, we have a market of customers looking for used tires, I get asked weekly. I currently don't do ANY tires, but I am strongly considering stocking common sized used tires for older vehicles as these seem to be the customers generally asking for them. I believe it would also be a great opportunity to do brake & front end inspections while the tires are off the vehicle and upsell needed repairs.

Do any owners sell used tires and what are your sources for obtaining them (recyclers, resellers).

I recently picked up a tire machine and I am getting a balancer as well. In my area, we have a market of customers looking for used tires, I get asked weekly. I currently don't do ANY tires, but I am strongly considering stocking common sized used tires for older vehicles as these seem to be the customers generally asking for them. I believe it would also be a great opportunity to do brake & front end inspections while the tires are off the vehicle and upsell needed repairs.

Do any owners sell used tires and what are your sources for obtaining them (recyclers, resellers).

Sorry, I don't sell any used tires, no one in my area does. We sell a ton of new tires. What type of market are you speaking of? We have many cusstomers who commute to work and put 25k plus miles on per year. Why not create a market selling new tires? You can add a few benefits such as, Lifetime rotations and free flat repairs, to get the customers returing to you. Just a thought...

I recently picked up a tire machine and I am getting a balancer as well. In my area, we have a market of customers looking for used tires, I get asked weekly. I currently don't do ANY tires, but I am strongly considering stocking common sized used tires for older vehicles as these seem to be the customers generally asking for them. I believe it would also be a great opportunity to do brake & front end inspections while the tires are off the vehicle and upsell needed repairs. Do any owners sell used tires and what are your sources for obtaining them (recyclers, resellers).

Used tires in the 14" and 15" you can easily sell if you can get them. However, there are both supply and liability issues. My feeling is that people who are looking for used tires are not the best candidates to up sell.

There are 4 or 5 used tire shops on the street my shop is on. I have considered gettin into the used tire biz BUT was warned of the liability by a friend that manages a Firestone store. New tires are the way to go. As you build up your "scrap " pile you could sort out the best and resell them. Just be sure to CYA on the invoice for used. Get signatures and let the people know they are signing a no liability disclaimer when you sell used tires. Might help to get a lawyer to word it for you! Just my 2cents.

My shop is in a working class neighborhood where used tires are in demand for a lot of individuals and families. Even the higher income individuals are still seeking deals for tires on seasonal wheels. Used tire shops are not a rarity around here, but most are run out of small buildings with tire removal done in the parking lot.

I bought the tire machine to do new tires on, but I was scoping out other shops a few days ago, and the new tire/light service shops are empty (Monroe, Midas, other independent light service shops), and the few shops doing used tires are packed. I know the used tire shops do not pay more than $5 a tire from the supplier, and sell them installed for $35-$45 for most cars, with larger truck tires obviously being more.

I know new tires are a better value, but the market in the area demands what the market in the area demands. I've been swamped all week so I have not had time to even think of searching for suppliers until I put up this post, but I am going to do some research on it hopefully in the middle of next week.

The kicker is, when I did speak to one NEW tire supplier, there is more room left for profit in a used tire install then on most new tire installs (based on local rates).

Used tires could become illegal in Texas.

 

http://www.moderntir...er&prestitial=1

I’ve run a general repair shop for 35 years and became a small associate tire dealer about 5 years ago. We do not sell used tires for same reasons most of you have already listed. #1 used tires are a liability that sooner or later will bite you in the butt…….and believe me now days law suits abound. #2 like someone said a used tire customer is not going to allow you to do any other services nor will they likely be a repeat customer. #3 why compete with my own new tire sales?  I do not begrudge anyone that wants to sell used tires and I understand there are lots of folks that need to save money the best they can....but I just don't think it fits my business model.

I did not like doing tires because the capital I had to tie up was pretty high for a negligible return. I even used to tell my customers to buy the tires from tire rack and had them deliver to the shop.

 

I spoke to a good friend of mine and he suggested to work out a deal with a local tire warehouse. My guy carries the inventory and I mark up the tires 33%. It is working out pretty good so far.

Used tires 'unsafe' — Consumer Reports

http://www.tirebusin.../NEWS/130419916

 

 

 

Used tire bill passes Texas Senate

http://www.tirebusin.../NEWS/130419933

I have put used tires on my personal vehicles and never had a problem with them. On the road my shop is on there are no less than 4 used tire " dealers " in a 3 mile stretch. I personally think it would be a waste the shred some of the used tires I have bought in the past. I have seen folks that were not regular with rotations have 4 new tires installed and 2 of them were in very good condition. I guess for the most part it boils down to common sense...which is not so common anymore. 
 

It's fine to sell used tires, but we live in a world where liability is the magic word! Insurance companies hate the used tire industry, I've learned. We repair professional love the word practicality, tho, but we can't let the desire to be practical carry us into a problem situation.

 

We have to come to grips with the way the general public thinks about things like this. Just because you helped them out in a pinch doesn't say they can't sue you for something that is perceived to be your fault!

 

In my shop, we sell a few new tires. Also tire repairs and mounting and balancing the customer's used tires that they roll in. It's a service that we use to connect with existing and future customers.

 

My theory is that if I can keep busy and make a living doing mechanical repairs and servicing without the exposure of a used tire depot, why bother with it?

 

Regards,

Jonny

Here is more legislation about unsafe used tires:

 

http://www.moderntir...er&prestitial=1

I been following the Fl actions. I dont do tires now but have been looking into adding that. Spoke to my tire guy this morning and he is following it also. I wouldn't have a clue without ASO. Thanks for the updates!

There's also the issue with the dates of those used tires.  We often replace tires because some elderly people put so little miles on the car, but the tires may be over ten years old.  When we take these tires off the tread still has a lot meat, but I would not trust them.

 

Just my thoughts on this.

This week we replaced two sets of tires because of age.  The steel belts were starting to move and the tires vibrated.  One set was 9 years old.  The used tire guy grabbed them like they were gold even when I told him what was wrong with them. 

I read the entire topic tonight and found a lot of opinion but little in the way of experience.  I am sure a case can be made for liability in selling used tires but history proves that more lives have been taken and money judgements rendered where new tires that failed are the root of the case.  I really don't understand the politics in the cases for a ban on used tires in Maryland, Florida, New York and Texas.  I do know the legislation in Texas is more about the transportation of WASTE tires similar to those rules in most states and in Maryland the case was being made for the date of manufacture of a tire.  Unfortunately, legislators have less experience with tires than auto shop owners who might be thinking about selling tires.  When I started selling used tires they were made with Rayon cord and had a very short tread life.  Nylon made a much stronger tire and doubled the mileage.  The sidewall of a nylon bias ply tire could be very cracked from ozone exposure and continue to run for years but averaged about 30,000 miles total.  As radials became more popular  due to a smoother ride and longer mileage we learned that the sidewalls did not last after some aging began to crack the rubber. The six or seven years considered in those bills is not unreasonable for most radial tires but should not apply to all tires used on or off the highway.  Some of the legislation being considered is directed at the repair of tires which I think expose a dealer to much greater liability.  I sell repair material to my  used tire dealer/customers and insist they take hands on training to properly repair a tire.  I do not sell plugs despite my supplier insisting they can be a great time saver.

  Someone mentioned a disclaimer in selling used tires and I want you to know my business has been built on a "no questions asked 30 day guarantee".  I will not sell any product I can not stand behind.

] My feeling is that people who are looking for used tires are not the best candidates to up sell.

Exactly my thought.  And besides that, EVERY used tire is someone else's reject.  The key question is why?  I don't sell tires but I strongly discourage my customers from seeking rejects.

I will sell a used tire occasionally when I get a hold of a good one.  Trouble is not one in ten that I remove is worth reinstalling on a different vehicle.  The problem with the used tire guys around here is they will take a tire if it has good tread no matter how old it is.  People are buying those used tires and then coming to me for alignments because they have pulls and vibration.  Guess where those come from?