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Used Tire Check

Three checks in one place: decode the DOT date code to see how old the tire is, go through a short inspection step by step, and see a rough price range based on the tread left, the age and the price of a comparable new tire. Everything is computed in your browser. No account, no vehicle lookup, no personal data collected.

Check a used tire

3. Inspect it step by step

Answer what you can see. Your answers stay in this page and turn into a short list of things to ask the shop about -- there is no score and no pass or fail.

Step 1 of 6: Tread depth

Is any groove at or close to the tread wear bars (2/32″)?

How to check: Measure the shallowest groove with a tread depth gauge, at the inner edge, center and outer edge. Enter the lowest reading in the tread field above.

Step 2 of 6: Uneven wear

Is one edge, the center, or patches around the tire worn more than the rest?

How to check: Compare the depth at both edges and the center, and run a hand around the tread to feel for cupping.

Step 3 of 6: Sidewall cracks

Are there cracks in the sidewall rubber or between the tread blocks?

How to check: Look at both sidewalls in good light; bend the rubber gently with your thumb to open fine cracks.

Step 4 of 6: Repairs and plugs

Do you see a plug, a patch, or other repair marks -- or does the seller say it was repaired?

How to check: Check the tread for plug ends and, if the tire is off the rim, the inside liner for patches.

Step 5 of 6: Bulges or bubbles

Is there a bulge, bubble or wave on the sidewall or tread?

How to check: Look along the sidewall from an angle and run a hand over it; a bulge stands out from the surface.

Step 6 of 6: DOT date code

Is the DOT date code missing, unreadable, or different from what the seller told you?

How to check: Find the DOT code on the sidewall (it may be on the inner side only) and enter its last 4 digits above.

Inspection checklist

Ten things to look at before buying, printable for use at the seller's location.

    Sources and limits

    The age shown here comes only from decoding the DOT date code you entered, counted to today's date in your browser. This tool does not check the code against the physical tire. The age-related sentences quote or closely paraphrase NHTSA's published tire-aging information and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA); they describe what those organizations publish, not a judgment about your tire.

    The price range is plain arithmetic: the new-tire price times the smaller of (a) the usable tread left above 2/32″ and (b) the time left before 6 years (low end) or 10 years (high end) from manufacture -- the replacement window many manufacturers cite, per NHTSA. It is a negotiating aid, not an appraisal or a condition check. The two "cost per usable 1/32″" boxes compare the asking price with the new tire on tread alone; a gap within 5% of the new-tire figure is too small to matter. The inspection steps describe what most shops look at; they do not replace a shop inspection. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for its own age guidance, and ask a tire shop to inspect a used tire before you buy it. Full limits are on the site disclaimer page. To compare two tire sizes instead, use the tire size calculator.

    How we calculate: formulas, rounding and reference sources.