4 Tire 'Scams' to Be Aware Of

Buying a new set of tires can be a pretty big purchase. You’d be smart to look for any and every way to save money on tires. However, as tempting as it may be to get a bargain on cheap used tires, there are a lot of tire scams floating around that aim to trick and fool you into buying low-quality tires. Buying these tires is not only more expensive in the long run but also potentially dangerous. 

Are Used Tires Safe? Please Read Before Buying Used Tires

Because of their dubious condition, you run a far greater risk of a blowout when you buy cheap tires. This is a hazard not only for you and your vehicle but also for other people that are on the road.

But let us be clear: Not all cheaply priced tires are bad tires, nor are they scams. In fact, you can buy inexpensive tires that are good quality, though you might sacrifice road noise or perks like roadside assistance and treadwear warranties.

In this article, we’ll go through some of the more common tire scams and how you can spot them. 

Tire Thinning/Regrooving

Tire regrooving is hard to spot because of how new it makes tires look. Unless the tire seller discloses that the tires are used and have been regrooved, you might not know it. Most modern tires have a tread wear indicator built into a groove. When the outer body of the tire is in line with the indicator it means it’s time to get a new tire. Regrooving is when someone cuts into the tire grooves and removes strips of rubber so that the tread once again appears to meet the required depth. 

Why is this dangerous?

Not all tires are marked as “regroovable,” as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains in Title 49, Part 569. Regrooving a tire produces a very thin, flimsy tire that will easily wear down and pop during driving. However, the tire could look brand new. To avoid this scam, we recommend inspecting the tire for exposed cords. A cord in a tire is a thin steel wire built into the tire. If there are exposed cords anywhere in the tread, that tire is not safe to use.

Bottom line: Should you buy regrooved tires? No. 

Retreading Disguised as New Tires

Retreaded tires are not a scam, nor are retreads illegal. However, when a seller disguises retreaded tires as new tires that is a scam.

Tire retreading is when a tire’s old treads are stripped away and a new tread is applied to it. We have a separate article about retreaded tires but, if properly done, retreads can extend the lifetime of tires. This is a legal practice, but retreaded tires will have the Department of Transportation (DOT) code that corresponds to retreaded tires on the casing. If the DOT code isn’t there, it’s not up to NHTSA standards. You may even be fined if you have a tire that doesn’t have this symbol on it.

Retread tires aren’t as safe as new tires and generally aren’t seen as cost-effective alternatives because of the high costs associated with the risks of a blow-out, vehicle damage, and accidents. You can spot retreaded tires by the DOT code. If you’re concerned that a tire is retreaded without a DOT, you can inspect the line between the “carcass” of the tire and the tread itself. If there is a seam where the inner liner has bonded with the outside rubber that doesn’t have an even, manufactured look, it may be a retreaded tire. 

DOT Code Damage

The DOT tire code indicates a lot of things about tires. It not only shows the manufacturer identification number and size but also the age of the tire. At the end of the DOT code, a 4-digit number will be displayed. This number indicates the week and year that a tire was made. For example, a tire with the code 0321 was made in the third week of January in 2021. If this code is damaged or altered, you’ll be unable to see the age of the tire.

Why is this dangerous? 

Because it’s important to know how old your tire is to assess whether or not the rubber is in good condition. In general, if the DOT code is in any way damaged or rubbed off to where you can’t read the code, just assume the tire is unsafe for use. 

In a related post, we explain how long tires are expected to last: What Causes Dry Rotting Tires?

If the tire looks brand-new but the DOT code is very old, it may be a sign that the tire has been repainted or otherwise altered to look new. Be careful buying tires that have a DOT code with an older manufacturing year on them. 

Counterfeit Tires

Any product that’s manufactured with a famous brand name runs the risk of someone producing counterfeit versions to fool consumers into spending more than the product is worth. This is possible with tires just as much as watches and fashion accessories. These tires may look just like a good brand of tire but not have the same build quality that’s expected with a name brand. Product reviewer Consumer Reports published their findings related to mysterious low-quality tires. 

The bottom line is that if a tire’s price seems too good to be true for what’s advertised, they may in fact be fake tires. A counterfeit may have low-quality rubber or wear down much faster than the brand that it’s imitating. Be cautious with purchasing any discount or bargain name-brand tire. 

The best way to protect yourself against buying counterfeit tires is to do business with a reputable tire seller. 

Best Place to Buy Tires

We may be biased, but we like TireAgent.com for buying tires online. We offer a very large selection of brands and models, and we offer a number of payment plans. We ship fast and free within the United States.

Tire Agent not only offers affordable tire options but also financing for all tires and wheels. This helps ease the burden of purchasing a new set of tires. You’ll feel much better with a set of new, safe tires and save a lot of money in the long run.

What about used tires? What's the best place to buy used or gently used tires?

Used tires should assume to be generally not safe because you don't know the history. Even gently used or slightly used tires can cost more long-term if you experience a blowout. Look for the best deals on new tires, including rebates and discount codes on our deals page. 

Whatever tire you buy, whether new, used, or gently used, keep track of treadwear by inspecting the tread wear indicator regularly, like every time you fill your tank with gas or at least as often as you get an oil change. Extend your tires' lifespan by regularly rotating your tires. 

We get it: Tires can be a sudden, unexpected expense. When it comes time to buy a new set, it can be tempting to throw on gently used tires. Who wants to spend several hundred dollars on a new set of high-quality tires, especially if you've got an older vehicle with high mileage? 

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