A couple of loyal Tire Review readers voiced their views about the magazine’s December 2013 editorial – For a Few Dollars More – highlighting what some tire dealers are doing with used tire sales. Here’s what they had to say.
Dear Jim:
You cannot successfully legislate against demand. Just look what has happened with marijuana.
There has always been a need for used tires, but never as much as these past four years due to the economy.
Half, yes, half of my phone tire sales are for used tires. A definite sign as to how well or local economy is doing. Before this sad state of affairs the average was about 10%.
With the demands of used tires being so high coupled with the fact that consumers are wearing their tires further down than the norm leaves slim pickings for the most desperate. There are always some who will fill the needs, rightly or wrongly, in all consumer demands.
Unfortunately for our nation, morality, religious convictions and scruples have declined at an alarming rate and common sense is no longer common, so one – as a consumer – cannot totally rely on integrity of the salesperson unless prior experience warrants otherwise.
Yes, we do sell some used tires, but not nearly enough on hand for the demand.
Buyer Beware!
Dave Richards
Canton Bandag Co.
Jim,
Can’t agree with your stance on used tires.
While we don’t actively market used tires, we do save popular sized good used tires that are evenly worn with at least 5/32nds tread left [after a thorough inspection]. We don’t sell a lot of them, maybe 100 a year. Most sales are for one tire.
There are times when someone will come in with a tire worn down to the cords or just plain bald and can’t afford even the least expensive new tire. While it’s true there is no way to guarantee that the used tire is not internally damaged, chances are the customer is leaving my shop much safer than the arrived.
BTW, although I warranty every used tire I sell, in 34+ years I never had one return with a problem.
Mark Defer
Defer Tire
