# Buying used winter tires off a parked vehicle **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** used, winter, civic, honda, tires\ **Created:** [July 21, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221 "2010-07-21T14:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pboule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8c91f0/32.png) [@pboule](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pboule)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/1 "2010-07-21T14:22:11Z")
I have a 97 Civic that needs new Winter tires. Our neighbor has a 97 Escort that’s been sitting idle (never moved, winter or summer) in their driveway for the last 3 years…but has what visually seems to be a very nice set of Good Year winters on it. The candidate tires are fully inflated…but the car literally hasn’t moved an inch in 3 years. I know the rims will fit the Civic. My neighbor will let me have them for a song - but I’m more concerned about potential safety. Does the winter tire rubber “go bad”, or the tire somehow flatten out? Educate me, car talkers!! Pat ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/2 "2010-07-21T14:42:11Z")
You need to get the serial numbers off each tire and see how old they really are. Here’s how: > **[How to Decode a Tire Identification Number to Determine Tire Age](https://itstillruns.com/decode-number-determine-tire-age-5072135.html)** > > Tire age is the most important factor to consider when buying new or used tires. Just because a tire is brand new does not ensure that it is safe to use on a vehicle. As tires age the rubber breaks down and begins to crack, which can result in... p.s. - how do you know the rims are correct for your Civic? That’s quite a coincidence! ---
**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/3 "2010-07-21T15:11:20Z")
I just looked up replacement wheels on tire rack, and he’s exactly right, they are the same: Civic Offset: 35mm Backspacing: 5.35" Bolt Pattern: 4-100 Rec. Tire Size:195/55-15 Escort Offset: 35mm Backspacing: 5.35" Bolt Pattern: 4-100 Rec. Tire Size:195/55-15 That is one heck of a coincidence. BC. ---
**Author:** ![AL5000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@AL5000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/AL5000)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/4 "2010-07-21T15:19:33Z")
If they’ve been sitting in the sun for three years, I’d pass. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/5 "2010-07-21T17:06:46Z")
Are you sure about that. Everything I’m looking at says that the Escort and Civic have 14 inch wheels, but the tire sizes are indeed the same. Anyway, I wouldn’t buy used tires, but that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/6 "2010-07-21T17:25:51Z")
I was more wondering about bolt pattern and offset - that’s some good luck for the OP! ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/7 "2010-07-21T17:26:20Z")
Your life depends on those tires…start out with new ones… ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/8 "2010-07-21T20:17:06Z")
They’re probably fine for now, but just in terms of rubber rot, they’ve probably only got another season or two left on them. I’d second Texases’ idea of checking the DOT number, but if they were reasonably new three years ago, and they’re cheep with a capital C, I’d say it’s okay to use 'em. Just keep a very close eye on them. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 10:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/9 "2010-07-22T10:55:08Z")
If the vehicle hasn’t moved on 3 years, the tire are absolutely flatspotted - and permanently so. You may be able to drive out SOME of the flat spot, but you will never drive out ALL of it. I recommend against this. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/10 "2010-07-22T12:49:22Z")
Run Away ! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/11 "2010-07-22T13:54:51Z")
So Pat, have you checked out how old the tires are? ---
**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/12 "2010-07-22T15:22:27Z")
The bolt pattern and offset are the important factors. The actual wheel size truly doesn’t mean anything. As a comparison, the '08 Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata all use the same bolt pattern and offset, too. BC. ---
**Author:** ![pboule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8c91f0/32.png) [@pboule](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pboule)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-used-winter-tires-off-a-parked-vehicle/52221/13 "2010-07-22T17:04:32Z")
Tires are 2004. Car literally hasn’t moved an inch since 2008 or so…you folks have successfully talked me out of this one. Thanks for the advice!