Anyone who owns, or has ever owned, a car, has at one time or another been in the market for new tires, or even used tires. In fact, a rotation of the tires on a vehicle should typically be done at least every 7,500 miles or so, unless the manufacturer recommends differently. In addition, paying attention to the tread on a car’s tires is important. When the tread has worn down to 6/32’s of an inch is the time to replace them with either new tires or a set of good used tires.
Used tires can be purchased in a number of different places. There are used tire dealers who specialize in selling good used tires, as well as tire companies, who may sell tires that are new or used. Generally speaking, a company that does sell used tires will be sure that every tire is inspected and meets regulations before offering them for sale to the public. The company wants to keep their reputation in tact and keep customers coming back to them over and over.
However, there are other places where people will look for old tires that have been used, hoping to get a used tire for a cheap price. In this case, the individual needs to know what to look for, because anything, no matter what shape it is in, can and will be sold for a price. If a tire looks old or worn out, there is a tried and true way to test the tread by simply using a penny. The penny can be placed upside down between each groove in the tire. Lincoln’s head should not be visible at all over the top of the groove; if it is, then the tread has seen better days, and the tire may not be a safe bet. Another possibility when purchasing old or worn out tires cheaply is that there may be punctures or defects that are not visible to the naked eye. Someone who purchases cheap tires without knowing how to find these little hidden secrets will be a very unhappy customer when they experience a blowout soon after the tires are placed on the vehicle. When buying old or worn tires, there will probably not be any guarantees.
The other option when buying tires is to buy new tires right from a dealer. Although new tires are more expensive, often times a retailer will offer a special deal like this; buy three tires and get one free. When spending money for new tires, whether a customer needs all four tires at the time or not, they are often willing to purchase all four because they feel the price, including one free, is worth it. Buying new tires often gives the driver peace of mind that the merchandise is safe to put out on the road. Most times new tires will come with a guarantee as well, which is another selling point for retailers.
It is important to know something about the longevity of the tires being purchased. A lot depends upon where the customer lives, the type of roads they travel on most of the time, and how much time they spend on the road. A customer who lives in a very rural area where many roads are rough, curvy, or even mountainous, will need tires that will hold up under these conditions. Customers who live in an area where the roads, for the most part, are paved and smooth, and who will not be spending a lot of time driving long distances, will probably look for a different type of tire. The tire’s tread on smoother roads will not take as long to wear down as it will on rougher roads. The kind of tires the consumer buys will be based on many factors, so it is important to do the homework beforehand.
It is suggested that car owners get their tire alignment checked at least every 6,000 miles. Another option is to have it checked each time the oil is changed in the car. Keeping on top of car care is imperative to the life and performance of any car.