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How to Sell Used Tires: Exploring Every Aspect

Wondering where to sell used tires?

Many options are available on the web nowadays, so it can be confusing trying to decide which choice is best.

Luckily, this is a common issue when selling used tires. For starters, there are many factors you need to consider beforehand and there are some issues to keep in mind too.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover every aspect you need to know about selling used tires.

Why You Should Consider Selling Used Tires

The first question to ask is: what do you gain to benefit from selling your used tires?

Below are four primary reasons:

  • To make money: Selling old tires is a quick way to make money. Use those dollars to buy new tires or pay bills and expenses. 
  • To help the planet: Tires release harmful microplastic pollutants into the sea and air annually. By selling used tires, you’re stopping someone from buying new ones and ruining the planet further.
  • To stay safe on the road: You should change your tires every six years maximum. So why not replace them early and ensure you and your loved ones are safe with newly fitted tires? 
  • To contribute to recycling rubber: By selling used tires to shops that can recycle them, you help workers create rubberized asphalt, railroad ties, bridge abutments, and other useful constructions. 

Problems With Selling Used Tires

Recycling or selling used tires has its benefits—from eliminating fire hazards to creating a greener planet, for example.

However, you may face some trouble selling your old tires. Those may include:

  • Legal issues: The legality behind selling used tires can be complicated. There are state laws to be aware of besides tire conditions to meet.
  • Extra expenses: You can always check the old tires and test them without having a professional do it. However, for safety and legal purposes, you’ll have to pay an expert to do it instead.
  • Not finding a suitable tire dealer: Most dealers selling tires don’t advertise that they’re interested in used ones for legal and ethical issues. As such, you’ll find it hard to locate a tire shop to sell any old tire to.
  • Haggling: Even if the old tire is in good condition, you’ll struggle to get a satisfying price from your local tire service. That said, if your used tire has excellent tread, you’ll be haggling from a position of strength.

What You’ll Need to Sell Used Tires

You know what to expect now from selling used tires, including the issues you should be prepared for beforehand.

For further preparation, however, keep in mind this short list of what you’ll need to sell used tires:

  • Create an online presence: Selling tires online is the most common practice you can follow. So, set up an online presence on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to speed up the process.
  • Check your tires and test them: Get your old tires checked at a local tire shop or have a tire expert take a look at them before putting them on the market. This way you’ve fulfilled your legal responsibility as a seller.
  • Research retread facilities or recycling centers: You’ll need to look for a nearby retread facility or recycling center. These places will buy used specialty tires, old tires, scrap tires, semi truck tires, and light truck tires too—their versatility comes in handy. 
  • Double-check legal requirements: To stay on the safe side, make sure you know your state laws. In the United States, the legal guidelines on selling used tires are fuzzy, but checking that the tire isn’t on recall or in dangerous condition should be enough.

Where to Sell Used Tires

Onto the most important question: where to sell used tires? Luckily, the world wide web offers limitless options that serve this exact purpose. Below are your top three choices.

1. Craigslist

A car owner talking to a mechanic in a car service center

Want to locally sell off your old tires? Then Craigslist is the best option for you. Due to the variety of products on the site and the many customers it attracts, the process will go by smoothly.

What Makes This Option Great

Craigslist is a great option because it’s the most hassle-free choice out there. Selling on Craigslist takes nothing but snapping a few pictures of your product and writing a detailed description.

The site has high traffic too, which helps increase your product’s exposure. Craigslist interface is also user-friendly, free to use (for the most part), and has a neat feature that allows you to track your listing’s numbers. 

  • Fees/Commission: There are no costs for selling car/auto parts on Craigslist—which is a major advantage! Only a few products require a commission upon listing them.
  • Payment Methods: Cash and physical checks are the only accepted forms of payment on Craigslist. The site discourages online payment options as it risks buyers thinking the listing is a scam.

2. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace has boosted its popularity rates in recent years, becoming a reliable platform for locals to list their products. Like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace is another great option for selling locally.

What Makes This Option Great

Facebook Marketplace is as hassle-free as Craigslist, with the difference being that Craigslist pulls more buyers.

Otherwise, Facebook Marketplace is also free to use and has a straightforward selling process—all you need is a Facebook account!

The steps to sell are the same too. Take a picture of your old tire before posting it along with an accurate description, including the manufacturing date and how many years you’ve had it. You should include the tire’s tread and condition too.

  • Fees/Commission: Facebook Marketplace charges a flat fee of $0.40 for every listing below $8. For anything above that price, expect Facebook to cut 5% of the final payment.
  • Payment Methods: Credit and debit cards plus PayPal accounts are available payment methods on Facebook Marketplace.

3. eBay

Thinking of taking your used tires to the global market? eBay is a much bigger platform than the other two options, with a wider reach and a higher guarantee to sell.

What Makes This Option Great

Besides its irresistible large audience, eBay offers a unique auction-style selling so your listings can sell at reasonable rates and grant you a high-profit margin.

You can opt out of this option too and use one of eBays templates to drive traffic toward your product.

  • Fees/Commission: The fee will depend on how much you’ll sell your old tire for. eBay charges $0.30 for listing and will keep a portion of the final sale. 
  • Payment Methods: eBay supports credit or debit cards, PayPal, Google or Apple Pay, and cash. The site also offers a wire transaction option.

How To Sell Used Tires: Step-By-Step Instructions

header image for how to sell used tires post on gigworker.com

The hard parts are now out of the way. Believe it or not, the actual selling of used tires is pretty easy once you have all the technical stuff down.

Here are step-by-step instructions to guide you through the simple process. 

Step 1: Make Sure Your Tire Is in Good Condition

The first step is to ensure that your used tire(s) are in a decent condition to sell. This step will require that you carry out a series of tests to check various aspects of your tire(s).

Start with tire tread since it’s the most important. Tread depth worsens the more frequently you use your tires. So, how viable the tread depth is will depend on how long you’ve had the tire(s) and how many miles you’ve driven so far.

The penny test is an easy one to try out. You can quickly gauge how deep your tread depth is, take note of it, and include it in the listing’s description later.  

You’ll need to check the tire’s inflation pressure and manufacturing date as well. Track down how long you’ve had the used tire(s) to ensure their expiration dates haven’t passed.

Alternatively, you can have a professional carry out these tests and more, then inform you if your tire(s) are illegible for selling. 

Step 2: Choose a Selling Platform

Once you’re sure your used tire is in peak condition for selling, it’s time to pick an online selling platform to post your product on.

You can consult the aforementioned options to make an informed decision. For all three choices, all you need is an account, pictures of your product, and an accurate description of it. 

Selling to a local tire shop or a recycling center is the more environmentally friendly and easier choice, though. It saves you the waiting time spent on attracting online buyers and the effort of vetting them.

Step 3: List Your Used Tire

When listing your product online, remember to be as thorough as possible. Pictures you take of your used tire(s) should be clear and of high quality.

Snap a pic of everything you feel will help your buyers—the inside of the tire, the date of manufacturing, and the tread to name a few.

Do the same for the product description too and the setting up of your profile. Buyers can’t trust sellers with no profile picture, a clear name, or sketchy listings.

It’s how you can boost your product to the top.

Step 4: Track the Listing’s Progress

Your used tires should do well on the platform now that your profile and listing prove that you’re a trusted seller. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continuously monitor the item’s progress at least daily.

Some online selling sites even offer the choice to track your listing’s progress easily—among which is Craigslist. The site assigns each listing a posting ID which you can use to keep an eye on your product’s exposure. 

Step 5: Screen Buyers Carefully

After landing a couple of buyers, make sure to screen them carefully before moving forward with the purchase.

Whether selling locally or globally, it’s always safe to ensure no complications happen with your transaction—despite being the seller.

Be prepared to haggle and double-check online payments through PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

By extension, offer the best treatment back to your potential buyers by being prompt and upfront about your listing too.

Things to Consider When Selling Used Tires

Stack of used tires in a car garage of installation service

When getting rid of your old tires, you need to keep in mind a few other considerations. Those are:

  • Do market research first: Ask around for the market price of used tires and plan your profit margins and selling price accordingly.
  • Recycling is the way to go: If you’re in it for the cash either way, it’s better to recycle the old rubber and help the community another way.
  • Turn it into a business if possible: There’s a growing market for old tires, and if you have the model for it, why not change it into a profitable business?

Frequently Asked Questions

To round up our comprehensive guide, let’s answer two key questions you could be wondering.

Are Old Tires Safe?

Not quite. Tire experts agree that you should change your tires once every five to six years. The tire’s wear and tear becomes dangerous to both you and your vehicle after that.

Even if the old tire’s tread depth isn’t that bad, or within range, the tire can still cause a fatal accident.

What Can I Use Old Tires For?

Making a tire swing is perhaps the most common use for old tires. You can also repurpose them as a dog bed or an outdoor tire chair.

Other uses include turning the old tires as garden decor or a chic plant holder.

Similar Tutorials to Check Out

Want to start a different kind of business? Check out similar tutorials to this one below.

Wrapping Up

Selling old tires is an easy enough process, provided that you know what elements to consider beforehand and what issues to prepare for. 

It’s equally important to check for nearby recycling centers or local tire shops that would benefit more from your used tires. If not, then go for a reputable online selling platform and list your old tire(s) there. 

Did you like your guide on selling used tires? Tell us what you think in the comments and share the article with someone you know will benefit from it too.

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