Second-hand tyres have a mixed reputation, and both sides of it are earned. A used tyre that's been properly checked can be a perfectly safe, sensible buy. A tyre pulled off a wreck and sold as-is can carry damage that won't show until it fails. The difference is in the checking.

When a used tyre makes sense

  • Replacing a single damaged tyre, where a used one matches the tread left on the other tyre on that axle better than a new one would.
  • Short-term needs — the car is being sold, or it only has to get through to the next pay day.
  • A second car that does very few kilometres a year.

What has to be checked first

  • Tread depth — the legal minimum in New Zealand is 1.5mm, but a used tyre near that line has almost no life left in it.
  • Age — the date code on the sidewall tells you when it was made. Rubber hardens with age even when the tread looks fine.
  • Internal damage — a tyre that's been driven flat can be damaged inside with no sign on the outside. It has to come off the rim and be looked at.
  • Previous repairs — how many, where, and whether they were done properly.
  • Sidewall condition — cracks, cuts, bulges or exposed cords mean the tyre is finished.

Every used tyre we fit is checked for tread depth, age and internal damage first. If one isn't up to it, we'll tell you straight and won't fit it.

The honest maths

The AA makes a point worth repeating: a used tyre is cheap to buy but can be expensive to run, because you're paying for whatever tread is left rather than a full set. A used tyre at half the price of a new one, with a third of the tread, costs you more per kilometre. Used tyres earn their place when you need a safe tyre now or a match for one corner, not as a way to run a car cheaply for years.

Matching a used tyre to your car

Tyres on the same axle should match in size and construction, and ideally be close in tread depth so the car brakes and corners evenly. If you're mixing new and used, most tyre makers advise putting the better pair on the rear axle to keep the back of the car stable in the wet. We'll tell you what applies to your car.

We stock both new and used tyres at our Totara Street workshop in Mount Maunganui, so you can compare the two side by side and pick what suits you. Call +64 29 777 7122 with your size.