Oklahoma Legislators Debate Restrictions On Used Tire Sales

Oklahoma lawmakers are debating a bill that would make it harder to sell used tires.

Owners at one auto salvage yard in Tulsa say the bill would hurt their business and the people who can't to afford to buy new tires.

"A tire like this is going to be anywhere between $15 to $25 depending on the tread and the size," Aaron Guldan of Midwestern Auto Salvage said.

Two Oklahoma lawmakers want to make sure some used tires can't be used on the road again.

State senator Frank Simpson (R-Springer) and state representative Pat Ownbey (R-Ardmore) are behind the legislation that would prevent selling a used tire with a tread length less than 2/32nds of an inch.

"So that's a good used tire,” Guldan said, pointing out a tire in his salvage yard. “There's not any dry rot. Everything looks good on that one, this one here, very dry rotted, you can see the cracks. Here's a treadwear indicator in the bottom of that channel. It's almost at the same height as the actual tread so that is not a good usable tire."

Midwestern's Mark Moosavi said stricter regulations could hurt his business and the people relying on affordable tires.

“We're reusing these tires and people can go back on the road,” he said. “We already test these tires to be reused on the road.

“[The legislation] will impact my business, yes, but it will impact a lot of single parents a lot of parents that cannot even afford to buy new tires, people who are making minimum wage who are not able to afford new tires."

The trade organization lobbying for used tire regulation said worn-out and damaged tires pose safety risks to drivers.

"Consumers should be very cautious when considering a used tire purchase,” Dan Zielinski of the Rubber Manufacturers Association said. “There's just no way to know the service history of a tire that's been used by someone else."

One way to check to see if a tire is below 2/32nds of an inch: Take a penny and place it between the treads of the tire. If Lincoln's head is covered by the head of the tire, it's OK.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association said it expects similar laws to be passed in six other states this year.