Are used tires worth the risk? Trade group, legislators urge standards during National Tire Safety Week

Photo: Bridgestone Americas Newsroom.

Used tires? Been there done that. Let's face it: new tires are expensive, and for someone who's feeling a budget pinch, used tires can look like an appealing alternative. But it's important to know what you're doing and to know what danger signs to look for because, unfortunately, not every used tire on the market has been adequately vetted for safety.

Clearly, there are risks. According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), worn-out tires are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than tires with a sufficient tread depth. Federal crash statistics indicate that in 2016, more than 700 fatalities were attributed to tire-related causes.

Spotlighting the issue during National Tire Safety Week, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), State Senator Frank LaRose, State Rep. Robert Sprague, and key supporters including AAA, gathered yesterday to urge the Ohio House of Representatives to pass S.B. 223, a bill to prevent the installation of unsafe used tires on motor vehicles. The vote in the Ohio House is the bill's next step in becoming law, after the Ohio Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill in December 2017.

S.B. 223 would clearly define the characteristics of unsafe used tires, and prohibit the installation of any such tires on a vehicle that would travel on public highways. Drivers and passengers alike depend on tire professionals to help choose and install safe, appropriate tires, and the bill would ensure that only safe tires are available for installation.

“We know Ohio motorists are at significant risk when their tires are not in good working condition," said Rep. Robert Sprague, a Republican state legislator from Ohio. "Under current Ohio law, motorists driving on unsafe used tires are subject to penalties. This bill makes sure tire professionals only install tires safe for Ohio’s roads.”