TireGeoCalcBuying Used Tires: What to Check Before You Pay
Before you pay for used tires, check four things: the DOT manufacturing date, the remaining tread depth, visible damage to the rubber, and the tire size. Look at both sides of each tire, because the full Tire Identification Number (TIN) may appear on only one sidewall.
This checklist uses published thresholds. It cannot tell you that a used tire is safe; a tire shop can inspect it before you buy.
Why check used tires before paying
The date, the tread, and the condition of the rubber are the three things you can read on the tire itself. Each has a published threshold from NHTSA, Bridgestone Americas, Michelin, or Cars.com, listed below.
Use our used tire check tool to compare a used tire's tread and age with the price of a new one.
Four checks for used tires
1. DOT date code
NHTSA explains that the TIN is on the tire sidewall and that the last 4 digits show the week and year of manufacture.
Tire Rack explains that on tires made since 2000, the first 2 of those 4 digits are the week and the last 2 are the year. Code 2319 means week 23 of 2019.
NHTSA notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are 6 to 10 years old, regardless of treadwear.
Bridgestone Americas states that, under industry standards, tires should not remain in service past 10 years from the date of manufacture.
The NHTSA Tire Buyers FAQ advises checking the date when you buy, and notes that the full TIN may be missing from one side of the tire.
2. Tread depth and wear
NHTSA advises replacing tires when the tread is worn to 2/32 inch (1.6 mm), or when you can see the top of Lincoln's head in the penny test.
Cars.com notes that new tires usually start with 10/32 inch (7.9 mm) to 11/32 inch (8.7 mm) of tread.
Cars.com also notes that the wear bars sit at 2/32 inch, in 4 equidistant locations around the tire.
Michelin notes that wet braking declines noticeably at 4/32 inch (3.2 mm).
In a wet braking test by Tire Rack, reported by Tire Review, the car with new tires stopped in 195 feet. With 4/32 inch of tread it needed 290 feet, and with 2/32 inch it needed 379 feet. At the point where the 4/32 inch car had stopped, the 2/32 inch car was still moving at 44 mph.
3. Visible damage
Bridgestone Americas advises looking for cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, or cracks in the tread and on the sidewalls.
Bridgestone Americas also advises checking tire pressure when the tires are cold, after at least 3 hours of rest.
4. Size
NHTSA notes that the recommended tire size for your vehicle is on the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver door edge, or in the owner's manual.
Use our tire size calculator to compare tire dimensions.
Read how to read a tire sidewall to find the size printed on the tire.
Used tire checklist and published thresholds
The table below summarizes the four checks and the thresholds published by each source.
| Check | What to look at | Published threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOT date code | Last 4 digits of the TIN on the sidewall | Some manufacturers recommend replacement at 6 to 10 years; industry standards say no more than 10 years in service | NHTSA and Bridgestone Americas |
| Tread depth | Groove depth and the 4 wear bars | Replace at 2/32 in (1.6 mm); wet braking declines noticeably at 4/32 in (3.2 mm) | NHTSA, Michelin, and Cars.com |
| Visible damage | Cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, cracks | Check cold tire pressure after at least 3 hours of rest | Bridgestone Americas |
| Size | Size printed on the sidewall | Compare with the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver door edge | NHTSA |
Calculated dimensions
- Check
- DOT date code
- What to look at
- Last 4 digits of the TIN on the sidewall
- Published threshold
- Some manufacturers recommend replacement at 6 to 10 years; industry standards say no more than 10 years in service
- Source
- NHTSA and Bridgestone Americas
- Check
- Tread depth
- What to look at
- Groove depth and the 4 wear bars
- Published threshold
- Replace at 2/32 in (1.6 mm); wet braking declines noticeably at 4/32 in (3.2 mm)
- Source
- NHTSA, Michelin, and Cars.com
- Check
- Visible damage
- What to look at
- Cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, cracks
- Published threshold
- Check cold tire pressure after at least 3 hours of rest
- Source
- Bridgestone Americas
- Check
- Size
- What to look at
- Size printed on the sidewall
- Published threshold
- Compare with the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver door edge
- Source
- NHTSA
Example: checking one used tire
Follow these steps for each tire before you pay.
- Read the DOT code. Tire Rack explains that code 2319 means week 23 of 2019. Compare the age with the 6 to 10 year range NHTSA mentions and the 10 year limit Bridgestone Americas states.
- Check tread depth. Cars.com notes that new tires start at 10/32 inch (7.9 mm) to 11/32 inch (8.7 mm). NHTSA advises replacement at 2/32 inch (1.6 mm).
- Look at the rubber. Bridgestone Americas advises looking for cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, or cracks.
- Check the other side. The NHTSA Tire Buyers FAQ notes that the full TIN may be missing from one side of the tire.
- Compare the size. Match the size on the sidewall with the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver door edge or the owner's manual.
A tire shop can inspect a used tire before you buy it.
Frequently asked questions
How old is too old for a used tire?
NHTSA notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are 6 to 10 years old, regardless of treadwear. Bridgestone Americas states that tires should not remain in service past 10 years from manufacture. The last 4 digits of the TIN on the sidewall show the week and year of manufacture.
What is the minimum tread depth for a used tire?
NHTSA advises replacing tires at 2/32 inch (1.6 mm). Michelin notes that wet braking declines noticeably at 4/32 inch (3.2 mm). In the Tire Rack wet braking test reported by Tire Review, a car with 2/32 inch tires needed 379 feet to stop, against 195 feet with new tires.
What damage should I look for?
Bridgestone Americas advises looking for cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, or cracks. A tire shop can inspect an unmounted tire for you.