Used tyres - Good or bad idea?

[Az]

Replacing the rear tyre has sh*gged my skinny student wallet & now the times come to replace the front tyre.

I don't have much money but need a new tyre as it's on the legal limit and has some cracks in.

My local mechanics has a worn battle-axe (BT021) with 3-4mm tread left (with no repairs) for £35 fitted as long as I provide the wheel off the bike, which isn't an issue for me.

Is it a bad idea to get a used tyre or shall I wait a few weeks and get a new tyre fitted?

[Tamsin]

To my mind, a tyre is a tyre is a tyre, as long as its not bald, punctured and in resonable nick. Might be offput if I knew it was on a vehicle that had had a shunt, but otherwise....

On the subject of second hand tyres, anyone who has bought a second hand vehicle has used them

[DiscoBiscuit]

Personally, I'd go for the part worn.

[Tamsin]

To be fair, i've not had to do bike tyres before but when it comes to cars if I'm skint then I'm perfectly happy with part worn but if I have some dosh to spare I buy the highest energy efficiency rating ones I can.

[krarkol]

Go for it.

Last rear tyre I had on the bandit was a bt021. Read a few horror stories on here about it but I found it was fine. Not as grippy as the PR3 before it but was good enough and slides where controllable
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[m3-paul]

I have just put on a very good Pirelli Diablo Rosso that I got from eBay. I actually prefer part worns as I don't like the first few miles on a brand new tyre so the fact that I get a quality tyre with no release agent covering it and a bit cheaper is a win for me. My only criteria is that I do not buy a repaired tyre.
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Yamaha TZR250 - love the smell of TTS!!!!
CBR900RR Fireblade - so much fun

[m3-paul]

I have just put on a very good Pirelli Diablo Rosso that I got from eBay. I actually prefer part worns as I don't like the first few miles on a brand new tyre so the fact that I get a quality tyre with no release agent covering it and a bit cheaper is a win for me. My only criteria is that I do not buy a repaired tyre.
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Yamaha TZR250 - love the smell of TTS!!!!
CBR900RR Fireblade - so much fun

[Sparkss]

bad experience here I'm afraid, slow puncture repaired with tyre weld but went egg shaped and it actually started to split away at the walls. I was inflating the front which was fitted at the same time and the valve came out with the pump

the 2nd rear I got was fine, very cheap if you're not unlucky. paid £35 for the wheel so now I can sell the old rim
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R1

[kramdra]

worth checking the DOT maufacture date if you buy used.


How much tread would a new front tire normally have? Ebay has none with more than 4mm, so I guess new is ~5.5mm.

[Monkeypony]

Ever bought a bike secen hand? In which case, you've already ridden part worn tyres. I'm presuming it didn't kill you!

The only real question is, does it make more sense to buy a cheap tyre that will need replacing sooner than a new one. If it's only good for half the miles, but is more than half the price, it makes more sense to buy a new one if you can.
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Llama-Farmer]

A decent part worn is much better than a brand new ditchfinder.

Rather stick a £60 part-worn Goodyear/Michelin (that would cost £120 new) on the car than a £30 linglong/triangle/etc that'll see me crashing.

Hell I'd rather just fit 3 decent tyres than 4 bad ones.

[MarJay]

The only time you really get a problem is if they've been run overinflated or underinflated, or on weird suspension settings, or stretched or squeezed onto an incorrectly sized rim. This can cause abnormal wear patterns which can (and most likely will) affect the handling of the bike in a negative way.

If the tyre looks rounded and it's not 'cupped' (tread blocks at different heights) then it *should* be good to go.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Islander]

Nothing wrong with them at all. Just make sure you have a good look at them and check them over for obvious damage or defects first.

[clancy]

There fine go for it

I put one on my gsxr last month. Paid £45 for a pirelli diablo rosso 2 which are about £120. It had barely been used, over 5 mm of tread all over, tyre was perfect
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KLX 300r

[Copycat73]

I don`t fit second hand tires.. their history is unknown and its not worth the risk.
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[garth]

I wouldn't fit a BT021 if you paid me, personally.

Pretty sure there's a near new front in the shed somewhere.

[Monkeypony]

[clancy]

[Copycat73]

[clancy]

What sort of hidden damage, im genuinely interested as to what you think could be wrong with it that's not obvious
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KLX 300r

[Llama-Farmer]

[Copycat73]

[P.]

He worries far too much. I've done a billion trillion* miles on part worns and not had any issues.



*may be more.

Again with the 021, I wouldn't fit that shit either. I have 2 here on a Thundercat which are being taken off and buried.

[Copycat73]

[Richy CB1000]

This is always a touchy one and I understand why people ask.

Personally if I'm flush I'll buy the best I can get. BUT my last front a BT020F came from a friend of a friend off a Pan Euro. He swore blind it gave him a wobble, they all say that on Pan forums.

So he changed it out. It has less than a thousand on it, perfect condition. £30! Why would I pay nigh on £110 for a new one?

It's been on mine for around 2K now and not an issue. Just check the date and condition, after all someone else was using it, were they risking their life?