Do worn out tires adversely affect trade-in value?

[Atari2600]

Trying to figure out if it would be worth it to replace worn out tires on the car I want to trade in early next month. I would guess it's harder to move cars at an auction with 1/32 left to the tread wear indicators. If it's $500 I don't care. If it's $2000 then yes.

 

[PoitNarf]

When I traded my car into Tesla they just wanted photos of the exterior and interior. I don’t remember them asking anything about remaining tire tread.

 

[S4WRXTTCS]

I'll find out soon.

If I wasn't trading in my Model S soon (within a week or two) then I'd get new tires plus the annual service. I don't see the need to do either since I'm trading it in.

I have about 40K miles on the initial set of tires.

 

[voip-ninja]

Tesla sends trade in cars to auction, I imagine they don’t care about the condition of the tires.

 

[Atari2600]

I have 62k on my car but I have had winter and summer sets since day one. Original tires in both cases, selling the winter set to someone I know. If they just care about exterior and interior then I'm good. My trade in is not a Tesla. The Xpel wrap on the front has done a good job keeping the front looking good and I think the LLumar Air Blue 80 may have helped the interior but I kept the car in a garage at home and at work.

I've had the SMS link on my phone for 4 days and have been nervous about starting the process. Guess I'll go to Carmax this weekend then finish the web pages from the SMS link. Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[xyeahtony]

Nope. in all my years selling cars, nobody has ever measured the tires. i sold my last ICE car to carmax when i bought my tesla and when i checked the listing a week later it shows they replaced the tires themselves.

 

[Trevor B]

I have 62k on my car but I have had winter and summer sets since day one. Original tires in both cases, selling the winter set to someone I know. If they just care about exterior and interior then I'm good. My trade in is not a Tesla. The Xpel wrap on the front has done a good job keeping the front looking good and I think the LLumar Air Blue 80 may have helped the interior but I kept the car in a garage at home and at work.

I've had the SMS link on my phone for 4 days and have been nervous about starting the process. Guess I'll go to Carmax this weekend then finish the web pages from the SMS link. Thanks for the info everyone.

Both Carmax and Tesla gave me low ball offers ... was able to sell it privately at 2x the trade-in quote. YMMV

 

[Uncle Paul]

At the auction the tire condition will be noted and the bidders will bid accordingly.

Most dealerships will put on fresh tires if necessary as few people are shopping for cars with bald tires.

Would not put on fresh tires if it is going to an auction, but would if I was selling private party.

Some will just slap on some cheap chinese brands.

 

[Atari2600]

Some will just slap on some cheap chinese brands.

Could make my WRX go faster for the next owner.

 

[Msjulie]

Both Carmax and Tesla gave me low ball offers ... was able to sell it privately at 2x the trade-in quote. YMMV

givemethevin, vroom, shift - folks should try them

 

[trm2]

When I traded in for my Tesla, they did want pictures of the tire tread depth.

 

[BLKMDL3]

ditto

When I traded in for my Tesla, they did want pictures of the tire tread depth.

 

[Atari2600]

ditto

The process must have changed then. I'll find out myself tomorrow.

 

[Litigate28]

Hey just curious did they ever check the tread?

 

[Atari2600]

Hey just curious did they ever check the tread?

Yes and they told me as long as no cord is showing they did not care. My car had a tad bit of tread depth left and were not worn down all the way to racing slicks. But this was CarMax in Cincinnati OH. Tesla ended up beating CarMax's offer so it was an easy process.

 

[E90SLAM]

Don't bother. Just drive and drop off your car while taking the delivery.
Shift your focus on the new car instead, and inspect before signing any delivery documents.

When I traded mine, not sure what the personnel checked, but returned rather quickly.
And my rear tire is almost bald.

 

[tvad]

Trading a car to Tesla provides the lowest financial return of any trade-in or re-sale method. There's no point worrying about worn tires.

 

[jebinc]

If selling to a private party, I might be inclined to put new tires on. Might be a deterrent to a prospective buyer for a hypothetical car with 5000 miles on the odo to have bald tires. I would think that hypothetical car "was ridden hard and left wet," if you know what I mean...

 

[Atari2600]

Trading a car to Tesla provides the lowest financial return of any trade-in or re-sale method. There's no point worrying about worn tires.

They beat CarMax by over $1,000 plus in Ohio I had the tax benefit on top of that as well. So over $17,000 of my model 3 was not taxed by my state. So I disagree with the first part of your statement.
Your statement about the tires is true though.

 

[tvad]

They beat CarMax by over $1,000 plus in Ohio.

It was exactly the opposite in California.

I suppose the take-away is that everyone needs to do their own homework.