For those who choose to purchase used tyres cost will be the number one factor to save some money. But, used tyres can be expensive as many are sold with low tyre tread depths and if you calculate the cost per millimetre of tread it will be more costly than using a new set of tyres. The most important thing is that used tyres compromise safety.
In this blog post, we are going to discuss what should you choose budget or used tyres. We will also share their differences, so if you are interested in knowing more about budget and used tyres then keep reading.
Are Budget Tyres a Good Decision?
In simple words, budget tyres are a much better option than buying used tyres. We know that budget tyres won’t be winning any tyre test awards near future, but there are some good budget tyres available from premium tyre manufacturers you can buy and they are much safer options than used tyres.
Are Part-Worn Tyres a Good Decision?
If you are looking for tyres for your car then purchasing used tyres is not a good decision. If you decided to remove a set of tyres from your car, you have done so because you no longer think to be safe. Just take a moment and think about if these tyres are not good enough for another driver, are they really good enough for you.
What Are The Difference Between Budget Tyres & Used Tyres?
We mention the key differences and factors you need to consider when comparing new tyres with used tyres, some of these impact each other.
Tread
When you purchase a new set of tyres it comes with 8 to 9 mm of tread depth. But in used tyres you need to visually check the tread depth or use a tread depth gauge to measure the tread depth.
If you purchase a used tyre for some reason it should have atleast 3 to 4mm of tread depth. With a lower tread depth, you will have less grip, especially on wet roads. This means less traction, cornering and less braking grip which increases braking distance.
Stopping Distances
If your tyres have less tread depth your stopping distance will increase. For example, if you take two cars both moving at 60mph. Car A has new tyres with 8mm of tread depth and car B has used tyres with a little above 1.6mm. If both cars brake at the same time, car A will stop nearly 13 meters shorter than car B.
Longevity
If you use used tyres they may lack tread depth, which means you will need to replace them more often soon depending on your driving style and distances.
On average, the tyre with a tread depth of 5.5mm can last up to 20,000 miles. So by taking this, we estimate of 3,600 miles per 1mm of tread depth. By taking this calculation, we can estimate that the average tyre with 3mm of tread will last 10,000 to 15,000 miles before it needs to be replaced. Tyres with 8 to 9mm of tread depth should last between 25,000 to 30,000 miles.
The range of distance varies depending on how much you travel and other factors you may end up needing to replace your used tyres again before fitting new ones. This means spending money on other used tyres is not a better decision when you could purchase a new one.
Cost
This is the only place when used tyres have more advantages. In some cases used tyres are a cheaper option than buying new budget tyres. A new set of budget tyres will likely cost you between £70 to £90. For example, some of Pirelli's budget tyres such as the Pirelli CINTURATO ALL SEASON PLUS cost £90.99 and the Pirelli CINTURATO P1 cost £78.99.
When buying used tyres you could get premium tyre brands for the same cost, but as mentioned above that comes with some safety compromises. But, as we said earlier when you look at the bigger picture used tyres most of the time they may cost you more in the long period.
Tyre Age
Tyres which are considered new up to five years after production. Rubber does age and deteriorate over time which results in reduced performance. Depending on how much you drive your car each year, you could end up replacing your tyres again within that period.
Safety
Used tyres do compromise the safety of your vehicle, especially compared to new Car Tyres Milton Keynes. As we said earlier someone has likely decided these tyres are no longer safe to use and has had them replaced.
There are strict laws that used tyres need to meet to be purchased and sold in the UK. This is part of the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, which comes under the Consumer Protection Act. Selling used tyres that don’t meet these requirements is a criminal offence.