The Scrounger's Guide To Finding Used Tire Bargains

Enlarge Image Image Gallery TOP ROW, LEFT: Maybe you didn't know it, but this establishment wants your business . . . and its prices are right too! TOP ROW, RIGHT: These are just a few of the many tires that a typical auto salvage ,yard has to pick from . . . and they're generally all chalk-marked for size too. SECOND ROW, LEFT: Checking the depth of tread on a used tire is easy and anything over ;3/16"" is good.SECOND ROW, RIGHT: Note the good, uniform tread on the tire to the right . . . versus the uneven wear-probably caused by poor wheel alignmentexhibited by the doughnut to the left. ABOVE, LEFT: The wear bands (which show here as ""breaks"" in the tread ,grooves) on these two tires fairly scream that there are very few good miles left in this rubber.ABOVE, RIGHT: By simply pushing a tire down onto a rock, you can quickly expose its ""innards"" to inspection.LEFT: Why is this man smiling? He just saved over .8100 by buying his ""new"" tires in a used auto parts yard.

How do I keep from paying a budgetbusting $40 to $70 each for new tires? Simple. All 1 do-whenever my vehicle needs new rubber-is visit a few of the larger auto "junkyards" in the area and take my pick from hundreds of choice, nearly new tires that've been removed from damaged autos. (Nearly every car in the boneyard has been crunched up in some way . . . but in almost all cases, the tires are still salvageable. This is "my kind" of automobile footwear.)

In four hours or so of "work" on a Saturday morning, I figure I can save about $100 on rubber for my Volkswagen while at the same time recycling precious petroleum products (the "rubber" now used in auto tires is mostly synthetic). You, too, should be able to save at least this much on your car's tire-related expenses ... even more, if you drive a vehicle (such as a truck or van) that requires relatively expensive treads.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Step one in finding used-tire bargains is to scan the Yellow Pages for the names and addresses of auto wrecking lots in your locale. (The best selection can generally be found in a sizable city . . . so if you live near a metropolis, check out that area's phone directory.) I always call ahead to make sure the establishment(s) in question save(s) salvageable tires. The yards that don't, of course, aren't worth my (or your) time.

Next, it's time to don some old clothes and-with a list of auto parts yards in hand, your exact tire size in mind, and a knife in your pocket-head out for the closest "tire recycling center".

When I arrive at my first hunting ground, I tell the parts broker in the front office what I'm after. He or she will then give me [1] directions to the rubber rack and [2] free rein to browse. Sometimes, an extra man will be assigned to assist me ... which is fine. It always helps to have someone pre-sort the tires into "right" and "wrong" sizes. I take care, however, to see that I-not the yard employeemake the final choice of merchandise.

SCREEN PROSPECTS CAREFULLY

Confronting 500 or 600 rubber doughnuts can be anxiety-provoking (to say the least) without a plan of action. Therefore, bear in mind that-in addition to looking for the right size rubber for your vehicleyou want to check tires for [1] the type of construction (radial or conventional-ply), [2) evenness of wear, 131 depth of tread, and [4) structural soundness. Let's consider each of these factors one by one.