11/03/2026
Imagine this; You find a worn tyre on a used truck that you are buying, what do you do next? Ignore it, haggle, or walk away?
Well, all answers may be correct. Here's why:
Ignore it - This is your worse option as tyres can be expensive, but if the tyre wear is minor and the seller has evidence of correcting what caused the wear, there may be no fault apart from a tyre that may wear out a little sooner. If the price is right you could Ignore it or go to the next suggestion.
Haggle: OK, this is a great one but only if you know what you are haggling about. Sure the tyre is worn out, but why did it wear out. If the tread is flat with no excessive wear on the edges, then it could just be time for a set of tyres. Find out the cost of a set and Haggle it off the vehicle price.
But what if the tyre has worn unevenly, for example on the edge? That could be a sign of poor wheel alignment, thats not a big issue unless the adjusting bolts are siezed.But other components ts may have failed that caused the tyre wear such as worn out bushes, sagging suspension, bent components, loose bolts, accident damage and many more. That means the vehicle may need a $5,000 repair and not just a $300 tyre. Don't forget , if it's a dealer you can haggle to get the vehicle repaired instead of reduced, that can take out some unknown concerns about the repair.
Walk away: this can be hard, but try not to get too attached to the vehicle that you are looking at, there are often many more of them. Tyres are an easy fix but if the repair parts above cost more to buy and fit than the price of the vehicle, it's time to walk away. That might even be why they are selling it in the first place. Also if it's unresolved accident damage, there may be more to that vehicle than you first thought, so if you don't feel comfortable with the deal, just walk away. Also, if the person wants top dollar, but refuses to negotiate the repairs needed, just walk away as that vehicle will cost you more than it's worth.
And the best way to know all of this is to get a prepurchase truck inspection done before purchase. See our bio for contact details.
mechani