Companies Who Buy Used Tires

Last Updated on 01.10.2024 by hrushetskyy

As of last year, almost 290 million tires remain stashed in the United States each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. You can find them in landfills, junk yards, sheds, garage shops, and the backyard. The latter is very dangerous because they become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Re-using old tires is a good way to lessen pollution and trash.

Retreaders, tire retailers, and scrapyards may have a need for your old tires. Though they may have certain guidelines before they buy your used tires, the best way to know about their services is to check them out.

Selling used tires is actually encouraged considering that the United States throws away 290 million tires each year. Companies that buy used tires are recycling 80% of the rubber, which is up from just 17% in 1990. It takes 50 to 80 years for a rubber tire to fully decompose.

Can I still sell my used tires?

Selling used tires is actually encouraged, given that the United States throws away 290 million tires per year. Companies that buy used tires are recycling 80% of the rubber, which is up from just 17% in 1990. It takes 50 to 80 years for a rubber tire to fully decompose.

You ask, “how much can I get from my used tires?”

1. Price depends on the quality and demand.
2. Excellent quality used tires can be priced as high as $60
3. Average price for used tires is between $25 and $75

There are several guidelines used by companies that buy used tires.

1. Type of Tires they buy: They accept almost all types of used tires; however, it is still best to give them a call as policies change over time.
2. Specific requirement before buying: The requirement is actually simple — that the tire must in good condition. You don’t sell slashed, broken, cracked, and damaged tires.
3. The number of tires they buy is dependent on the demand.
4. How much can they offer for a tire: The price is also dependent on the law of demand and supply.

Certain tire companies have more rigorous criteria for selecting the tires they purchase. To start, the wheels must be OEM or produced by the vehicle manufacturer’s original equipment supplier. They only accept used tires that fall within grades A to C on their grading scale

This is how the grading scale is defined:

1. A+ means fresh from the factory and was never been used/mounted on any vehicle
2. A means tire is slightly lower in quality than A+, tires which has been mounted to a vehicle but only slightly used
3. A-  means tires which are still in very good condition, with minimal to no scratches on the wheel surface, and scratches should not be visible from afar
4. B+ means only good and is applicable to tires which has minor curb scratches that are not visible from a short distance
5. B means fairly used and applies to tires which has visible minor scratches arising from regular usage, but with a good-looking finish
6. B- means tires is still acceptable, with small curb scratches and with small visible coating issues
7. C means tire has visible surface issues but isn’t cracked or bent

There are also used tire companies that only buy used tires of specific vehicle types. This is a bird’s eye view of some of their conditions.

1. Type of tires they buy: The kind of tire they buy are limited to used truck tires only.
2. Specific requirement before buying: The tires must not be too dusty, must be in good condition, and bead must not be critically damaged.
3. Volume of tires they buy: Same with the preceding tire buying companies, the volume of tires they can buy is dependent on the demand for it.
4. How much can they offer for a tire: The price is dependent on two major factors — demand and quality.

Also, there are tire companies buying old and used tires only from specific brands and also require the tires and the casings to be regroovable. This is what is stipulated under their buying condition.

1. Type of tires they buy: They are very specific as to the kinds of tire they buy. They only accept such brands as Unimount, Budd, and Dayton.
2. Specific requirement before buying: They also have specific requirement for the quality of used tire they buy – it must have capable casings and must also be regroovable.
3. Volume of tires they buy: They prefer to buy in large quantities.
4. How much can they offer for a tire: The price is dependent on two major factors — demand and quality.

Some tires companies are also very specific as to the vehicle tire type they’re willing to pay for.

1. Type of tires they buy: They are also very specific as to the kinds of tire they buy. They don’t accept light truck tires and car tires. They only buy old tires of semi-trucks (in specific sizes).
2. Specific requirement before buying: Before they buy your old semi-truck tire, the same must be in demand at the time of selling. Otherwise, they won’t make the purchase.
3. Volume of tires they buy: The volume of purchase is dependent on the demand.
4. How much can they offer for a tire: The price is dependent on two major factors — demand and quality.

Some may accept any kind of tire but they are more stringent in the quality of the used tire they accept. Here is an example.

1. Type of tires they buy: Rims and tires in different varieties.
2. Specific requirement before buying: They will only buy your tires if they are good enough for retreading and reselling. Also, the rims must be in good condition. Any sign of damage must be very minimal and not visible from afar.
3. Volume of tires they buy: The volume of purchase is dependent on the demand.
4. How much can they offer for a tire: The price is dependent on two major factors — demand and quality.

Online car tire selling site

Aside from the aforementioned companies who buy used tires, you can also check free online advertising websites if you want to sell your car tires online.

SellMyTires.com is a website which allows people who want to sell their old tires to post photos and details of the same on their website.

To make the most out of the website, make sure to provide accurate information of the tires you are selling. It would also be helpful for the prospective buyers if you can upload as much photo as necessary.

To make sure that any selling transaction is safe, you as the seller must exercise caution in your dealings with any prospective customer. Hold the meet-up in a public place and only accept cash as payment.

Craigslist is also a free ad site like SellMyTires, however in the former, the type of goods or services being sold and advertised are more varied. Notwithstanding the difference, it is still best to be more accurate in the information you share. Also, add as much photo as you can to make the post more convincing.

With that said, it will take a while for somebody to buy your used tires when you sell online. In contrast, companies who buy used tires will be able to unburden you of your troubles immediately after the requisite check.

Where can I sell my used tires?

1. Actual old tire stores near you.
2. Online advertising sites such as SellMyTires and Craigslist.

These recycling companies don’t actually pay you for each used tire you bring for recycling. In fact, as you can read below, they will charge you a certain amount as fee for the use of their recycling facility.

However, even if this is the case, you can still make money from recycling used tires.

Auto shops hate to see tires lying around because it takes up so much room for storage. This is the reason why they are so quick in throwing these used tires away. They either ask somebody to pick it up or they send it to a recycling facility. The process of sending the used tires to the recycling facility is actually added expenses for the auto shops.

This is where you come in. You can offer your services of picking-up the used tires and sending them to the recycling facilities. You can charge as low as $2 for each tire you deliver. Say, for instance, you charge this amount then you pay the recycling center $1 for each tire, you have $1 for each tire. Imagine how much you can earn with a truckload of used tires sent to the recycling facility!

Aside from earning money, you can actually actively participate and contribute to making the environment free from waste and fumes.

Emterra Environmental USA

Their recycling plant is in Canada but they serve a huge part of the United States. Their recycling method is emission-free so it’s zero waste and is harmless to the environment.

1. Do they offer pick-up service for used tire? Yes.
2. How much do you get for a used tire? You don’t get paid for the used tire you recycle in their facility.
3. How much do they charge for accepted used tire? The price varies from State to State.

Liberty Tire Recycling

1. Their recycling plant is in Pennysylvania and they have over 60,000 tire collection points across the United States.
2. Do they offer pick-up service for used tire? Yes.
3. How much do you get for a used tire? You don’t get paid for the used tire you recycle in their facility.
4. How much do they charge for accepted used tire? The price varies from State to State.

Something to think about

While it may be comfortable to just phone the local auto shops to ask if they have tires you can pick up, it is best that you go to them personally and offer your services. Chances are, you get paid on the spot, by cash or by check.

If you are sending the tires to a retreader, the tires might need to be inspected and checked by an inspector. This won’t take long though. After the said tires are checked, you will be given a receipt and will be told to check again later as to how many passed the assessment.

Though there might be a huge number of retreaders in your area, the best way to find one is to check out the Retread Tire Buyer’s Guide issued by the Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau.

From there, you can check out tire buyers per state. You can then call these buyers and ask certain questions such as:

1. What kinds and types of tires do you accept?
2. What are your standards/rules for accepting and buying old tires?
3. How many tires are you willing to purchase at a time?
4. How much can you pay for each used tire?
5. Do you have specific brand and sizes of tire you accept?
6. What are your procedures and guidelines before I get paid?

The money you get out of the tires you sell will always be dependent on such factors as size, quality, and demand. There might be buyers who will be willing to pay as high as $60 for each used tire while there might also be buyers who are only willing to pay as low as $3 for each used tire. To get the most out of your tire deals, it is best to explore all your options from companies who buy used tires.

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