Can You Sell Damaged Car Tyres? Honest Answer

No — do not sell damaged car tyres, on WishThrift or anywhere else. Selling part-worn tyres is regulated, and a tyre with exposed cords, sidewall damage, a repaired sidewall or under 2mm of tread cannot lawfully be sold in the UK at all. The honest answer is below rather than a listing guide.

Why not

In the UK, part-worn tyre sales are governed by the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations. A tyre offered for sale must have at least 2mm of tread across the central three-quarters, must carry no exposed cords, bulges, or repairs to the sidewall, and must be permanently and legibly marked “PART WORN” in letters at least 4mm high. Sidewall damage and cord exposure are outright disqualifying, not discountable. Internal damage from a kerb strike or a run-flat episode is also common and cannot be seen at all.

WishThrift takes no fee and no commission, so there is nothing in this for us either way. We would still rather this page said no.

What counts as damaged here

These are the things that put car tyres in this category rather than merely making them worth less:

Tread near or below the legal minimum
Tyres more than several years old, whatever the tread
Sidewall damage, bulges or cracking
Previous puncture repairs

How to be sure yours is actually damaged

Some of what looks like damage is not. Establish which you have before writing them off:

Measure the tread depth and state it in millimetres
Read the four-digit date code on the sidewall
Photograph the sidewall including size and date

What to do with it instead

Any tyre fitter will take them for recycling, usually for a small per-tyre fee, and they are legally required to handle them through a licensed waste carrier. Household recycling centres take them too, though many cap the number per visit. Never fly-tip them or burn them: tyres are specifically listed in waste regulations and the fines are substantial. If they still have legal tread and no damage, a fitter may buy them from you or fit them for someone else, which is the one route where they hold value.

What you can still sell from it

The wheels themselves are a different matter — an undamaged set of alloys is one of the better second-hand vehicle sales there is. Tyre-fitting tools, a trolley jack, a torque wrench and locking wheel-nut keys all sell independently.

If yours turns out to be sound

Then this is an ordinary sale and often a good one — car tyres in sound condition are typically worth £30 to £300. The things buyers pay a premium for:

Tread depth well above the legal minimum
Manufacture date within the last few years
Matching sets of four in the same size
Recognised brands with no repairs

State these in the listing, because a buyer who is already wary of buying this second-hand will look for them:

Full size marking, plus load index and speed rating
Measured tread depth in millimetres, across the width
The four-digit date code from the sidewall
Whether ever repaired, and confirmation there is no bulge, cut or sidewall cracking

Handing a sound one over

Heavy and awkward but not fragile. Collection is normal. If a tyre has less than around 3mm, sidewall damage or is more than a few years old, take it to a tyre centre for recycling rather than listing it.

Read the full car tyres selling guide for prep, photographs and pricing, or the car tyres value guide for what car tyres are worth at each of the five condition grades. Listing is free and there is no commission on anything you do sell.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell damaged car tyres on WishThrift?

No, and we would rather say so than take the listing. Selling part-worn tyres is regulated, and a tyre with exposed cords, sidewall damage, a repaired sidewall or under 2mm of tread cannot lawfully be sold in the UK at all.

What should I do with it instead?

What if mine is not actually damaged?

Then it is a different question and often a straightforward sale — see the car tyres selling guide and the car tyres value guide. Check it properly first: Measure the tread depth and state it in millimetres.