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Even at value tire retailers, it isn't uncommon to pay $100-$140 for mid-grade tire. If you're looking for a high-performance tire, you could end up spending over $1,000 for a single doughnut. This is why people turn to salvage lots to look for tires that are in good condition.
You may have heard you shouldn't put used tires on a car, but this statement is made on the presumption that you'd be installing tires that another driver cast off because they were spent. At junkyards, used tires aren't always spent. In fact, new model lemon vehicles and vehicles that were "totaled" in low impact collisions often have tires that could roll for many thousands of miles more before needing replacement.
Evaluating Junkyard Tires
If you want a great deal on tires, you can usually find it at Austin auto salvage yards. But for the sake of safe driving, still do your due diligence and inspect the tires using the steps below. Auto mechanics and part specialists at Austin auto salvage yards may provide additional pointers for buying used tires that are in good condition for the road.
1. Perform a Tread Depth Test
You might already know about this popular test - best-known as the "penny test". Take a penny and place it vertically in the tread tracks on several places around the tire. If part of President Lincoln's engraved head is covered by the tread, you still have at least 2/32" of tread depth, which is the minimum amount required for a tire to be considered roadworthy.
2. Inspect for Embedded Objects
Sometimes, a tire runs over something that should flatten it by creating a hole, but the object instead ends up embedding in the tire and plugging the hole it would cause otherwise. Roofing nails, relatively short bolts, and thick shards of glass are common offenders. Tires can drive for many miles with embedded objects in tow, but the objects can just as easy come and cause a flat.
3. Inspect for Weather Damage
Weather damage can be harder to notice than other problems in this list. When weather-exposed tire rubber heats and cools enough times, the frequent contraction causes small cracks that gradually grow larger. The cracks are usually most noticeable on the smooth tire wall, and indicate that a tire shouldn't receive much more use before being replaced.
4. Look for Metal Bands
Most vehicle tires aren't composed solely of rubber. They also contain metal bands that help the tire retain its shape through countless drifts, skids, stops, and turns. Eventually, the belt will start to show through the rubber. When this happens, the tire isn't far from falling apart, which could cause a deadly accident.
Before you buy tires from Austin auto salvage yards, perform a tread depth test, inspect for embedded objects, inspect for weather damage, and look for metal bands. For additional advice on evaluating used tires, contact a mechanic or a parts specialist at a salvage yard in Austin today.
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