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About Tires Plus
Tires Plus was established in 1976 by two Oil Shell workers, namely Donald Gullet and Tom Gegax. Its original locations were former Shell service stations, based in Burnsville, Minnesota. In 2001, BSRO acquired Tires Plus from the original owners.
Since then, this company has expanded considerably. Today, Tires Plus has more than 400 stores, spread across 23 different states in the U.S. These stores are manned by a workforce of around 5,000 workers.
As its name suggests, Tires Plus is more of a tire dealer. It sells a wide range of tires, for almost all vehicle makes and models on the road. However, it mainly specializes in selling Bridgestone and Firestone tires, as well as tires from their sub-brands like Fuzion, Primewell, and Suredrive, among others.
Besides selling tires, Tires Plus also offers complete car care. Some of the other maintenance services that this company offers include transmissions, engine works, heating and cooling systems, batteries replacement, oil changes, alignment, inspections, radiators, and tune-ups, just to name a few.
Tires Plus is among the few auto service stations that offer a time guarantee. According to the information posted on its website, this company promises to have your car ready within an hour. If it’s not ready by this time, it will offer you a 10% discount on your next visit.
Tires Plus has been actively involved in its communities for many years. It has partnered with various non-profits to make a difference for children throughout the country.
Tires Plus Tire Catalogue
As mentioned above, Tires Plus has a vast collection of tires. So, whether you drive an SUV, a compact, crossover, sedan or truck, you can rest assured that this dealer has a tire that will fit your vehicle. Most of the tires that this brand sells are mainly Bridgestone tires, Firestone tires and other sub-brands owned by the Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation. Some of the popular brands that this dealer sells include:
- Bridgestone Alenza series
- Bridgestone Blizzak series
- Bridgestone Driveguard series
- Bridgestone Dueler series
- Bridgestone Duravis series
- Bridgestone Ecopia series
- Bridgestone Potenza series
- Bridgestone Turanza series
For Firestone, Tires Plus sells the following tires:
- Firestone Affinity Touring
- Firestone All Season
- Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter
- Firestone Destination Series
- Firestone Firehawk series
- Firestone Transforce series
- Firestone Weathergrip
- Firestone Winterforce series
Other tires that you may purchase from this dealer include Primewell All-Season, Valera series, PS890 Touring, PS860, PS850, Suredrive All-Season, All-Terrain, Highway, Sport, and Touring.
Tires Plus also has a collection of Toyo Tires like the Toyo Extensa series, Country series, and Proxes series, just to name a few. So, regardless of the vehicle that you drive or the conditions that you encounter, Tires Plus has a tire for everyone. You simply need to browse through its catalog and you are almost certain of finding a tire that suits your needs.
Does Tires Plus Sell Used Tires?
The question is, does Tires Plus sell used tires? Unlike some of the other tire dealers in the country, Tires Plus doesn’t sell used tires. However, it repairs tires. If your tire has developed a flat, Tires Plus tires professionals will examine and determine whether it’s repairable. If the tire has been passed safe for repairable, its tire professionals will proceed to fix it.
About Used Tires
Buying used tires will help you to save money. On average, you can expect to save around 30% to 50% when you purchase a set of used tires that still have considerable tread depth, compared to buying new ones.
For example, the Pirelli P Zero High Performance will cost you around $190 per tire. But when you purchase a used one, you can get it for around $65 when it still has around 6/32 of remaining usable tread.
Also, purchasing used tires is a form of recycling tires, meaning you will be conserving the environment. When you purchase used tires that are in good condition, you will be preventing them from being dumped in landfills. Besides, you will also be conserving the materials needed to produce a new one.
Most people assume that used tires are not in good condition. However, this may not always be the case. Some of the reasons that may explain why used tires are in good condition include:
- Some vehicle manufacturers may convince drivers to purchase a new set of tires, even if the existing ones are not fully worn out yet
- When a vehicle is totaled because of floods, its tires may still be in good condition, if they weren’t damaged
- Some repair shops may recommend drivers to change tires even before they are fully worn out. The reason behind this is that tire repair shops will later re-sell these tires
- Vehicles totaled by accidents may still end up with their tires in good condition. Such tires may later be re-sold as used tires.
As you can see, there are several scenarios that explain why used tires may still be in decent condition. In fact, you can expect to get approximately 40% to 70% of the remaining tread on used tires. And considering that you usually purchase these tires at a throw-away price, it’s a decent return on your investment.
Considerations When Purchasing Used Tires
Before purchasing a set of used tires, there are various things to look out for, to ensure the tire you are purchasing is safe and you will get value for your money. While buying a set of used tires will save you some costs, you also need to ensure the tire you are purchasing is safe for use. Here are some things to check when buying used tires.
Age of the Tire
A tire’s age is usually displayed on its sidewall. They are usually the last four numbers after DOT. Out of these four numbers, the first two will represent the week while the last two will tell you the year of the manufacture. For instance, if these four numbers in a tire are 2715, then it means the tire was manufactured on the 27th week of 2015.
The U.S Department of Transportation recommends that tires shouldn’t be used after more than 10 years from the date of manufacture. After this period, the tire’s rubber begins deteriorating and breaking down, making it unsafe for use.
Tread Depth
The minimum allowed tread depth is 2/32 of an inch. So, if a tire is worn out beyond this level, then it’s not safe to use. Besides, it can land you in problems with the authorities. Hence, before buying a used tire, you need to check and ensure that it has more than 2/32-inch of tread depth.
Check for Uneven Wear
Before purchasing a used tire, it will also be advisable to inspect it carefully for signs of uneven wear. In case there are any signs of uneven wear, there’s a chance that the tire in question may have been imbalanced, over-inflated or under-inflated.
In case of such issues, continuous use of such a tire may end up causing liner damage or exposing the cords. Consequently, the tire will eventually collapse. And if this happens when you are driving, you may end up in a serious accident.
Condition of the Beads and Sidewalls
You should also pay particular attention to the beads and sidewalls before buying a used tire. Check whether there are any signs of cord exposure, cuts, cracks or other forms of damage.
If there are bumps on the sidewall, it’s highly likely the tire’s bead may have already separated. Also, the presence of bumps on the sidewall may be a sign of internal tire damage. Again, using such a tire will be unsafe, and you should avoid buying it at all costs, regardless of how affordable it may appear.
Wrapping It Up
Used tires are a great choice for drivers who are on a tight budget. They can serve you for several months, thus giving you ample time to put together funds for a new set. Unfortunately, Tires Plus doesn’t sell these tires, meaning you will have to explore other options.
About The Author
Charles Redding
I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.
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