9 Investigates the dangers of buying used, unsafe tires

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Millions of cars out on the road are riding on used tires, and some of those tires are unsafe.

Channel 9 Eyewitness News purchased two tires at two different used tire stores in Charlotte for a total of $65. We were told by the sales person in each case that the tire was in good shape. Then, we took the tires to Steve Guthrie from AAA to inspect them.

Channel 9 showed Guthrie a tire we purchased for $45 at Andinos on W. Arrowood Road in south Charlotte. After inspecting the tread and the sidewalls, he said it was in good shape.

But it was a different story when Channel 9 showed him the used tire we purchased at Watson's on N. Hoskins Road in west Charlotte.

The salesman told Channel 9 he had three tires in the size we were looking for. He sold us the one that he called the “best” for $20.

"This was the best of three?" Guthrie asked. "[I'm] shocked they would sell you a tire past its usable life."

Guthrie said the tire’s tread had worn down to the wear bars. That indicates the tire is no longer usable. He also said it had uneven wear and wasn't road worthy.

"A tire is basically only as good as it most worn spot," said Guthrie. "And the most worn spot is already gone."

Channel 9 contacted Watson’s, but the store did nothing illegal.

"You really are going to get what you pay for. Those tires are potentially damaged, worn out and can be potentially unsafe," said Dan Zielinski, of Rubber Manufacturers of America.

The trade group is pushing for changes in the law when it comes to what kinds of used tires can be sold.

"You never really know what the service history of the tire was. So, it's always a situation of buyer beware," Zielinski said.

But, South Carolina Rep. Gary Simirill is trying to change that.

"We started looking at what we had as far as regulations and there are none," Simirill said.

He introduced a bill last year banning the sale of unsafe tires with damaged or worn tread.

And Simirill knows a thing or two about tires. He runs Carolina Motorworks in Rock Hill. Customers have told him horror stories.

"They had bought tires on the way to Florida, one of the tires was terrible and they had a blow out," Simirill said.

While the bill passed in the House, it was blocked in the Senate.

"The push back was that this was an attempt to put used tires dealers out of business, and nothing could be further from the truth," Simirill said.

He said he will try to get the bill passed during the next session.

State inspections in North Carolina won't allow unsafe tires on a vehicle. But it remains legal to sell worn out tires in both states.

So it's a case of buyer beware.

Cox Media Group