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Tires are the most consumed item in any racer’s garage. Top teams can go through multiple sets throughout the course of a weekend quest for gold, as fresh racing tires and the grip they can provide are the keys to victory in nearly any series.
So how can the rest of us maintain a reasonable tire budget? Can we stay out on track and also keep a roof over our heads?
Used tires might be the answer we seek. Thanks to the ambitions of front-runners, their cast-off tires can be bought for pennies on the dollar. Of course, there’s usually more involved than just picking up the phone and placing an order, but secondhand tires can be a viable alternative for many racers.
The Used Tire Dealers
Top-level competition often requires fresh tires every time the car hits the tarmac. After a major event—say the ARRC, SCCA Runoffs or the NASA Championships—teams typically leave their qualifying and race tires with trackside tire dealers. This means hundreds of otherwise good tires are left ripe for the picking.
Of course, we can’t all hang around the trackside tire vendors looking for castoffs. The required travel, time and logistics keep this from being a practical endeavor for most of us. Thankfully, there are companies that specialize in the resale of these nearly new tires. Think of them as extending a tire’s life before it hits the recycling center.
A used tire dealer will clean and analyze each castoff before selling it. Retail prices generally range between $40 and $75 per tire, depending on condition.
“We’ll work with you on the pricing,” notes John Berget of John Berget Racing Tires. “While typical prices for one-heat-cycle tires will run about $75 apiece, we can find you slightly older tires if your budget is, let’s say, $200 for the set.”
With new race tires generally running about $150 or more apiece, you can save at least 50 percent on your tire bill right off the bat. And you’re making the tires fit your budget, not the other way around.
Timing Is Everything
The best time…
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