Owning a car comes with a long list of costs that add up fast. Insurance, gas, routine maintenance—it adds up quickly. According to AAA, drivers spent an average of more than $12,000 on their vehicles in 2024. And that’s before you factor in the things you can’t plan for, like potholes, road debris, nails, or random scraps of metal. For many drivers, those hazards manifest as cracked windshields or blown tires. For one man on TikTok, it showed up again and again, three times in just six months. That string of bad luck pushed him to rethink whether buying brand-new tires actually makes sense. TikTok creator Kevin (@iamkevinperson) shared his perspective in a short video that sparked a familiar debate: Are new tires worth the price, or is buying used the smarter move? "Buying New Tires Is a Scam" Kevin opens his video with a blunt take. "Part of me feels like buying new tires is a scam," he says. He explains that his frustration comes from his experience with his old tires. "Over the last six months, I’ve had to replace three tires," he says. "Because of random stuff being punctured into them from the road." Kevin makes it clear he isn’t abusing his car or driving recklessly. "If you drive your car regularly and you’re not out there doing donuts or burning your tires out," he says, "I feel like some used tires with decent tread just makes more sense." For him, it’s about math. Tires wear down no matter what, and one bad nail can take out a tire that still has plenty of life left. In an economy where prices keep rising, he argues that paying full price for new tires every time something goes wrong feels wasteful. "Especially in the economy we’re in today," he adds. His solution is simple: Instead of replacing damaged tires with brand-new ones, he suggests opting for used tires with solid tread remaining. What Do Experts Say About Used Tires? Buying used tires isn’t a new idea, especially when a single tire gets damaged and replacing the whole set doesn’t make sense. The appeal is obvious. Used tires cost less, sometimes much less, and can get a car back on the road quickly. The concern, though, is consistency and safety. Unlike new tires, used tires aren’t held to a single national standard. How they’re collected, inspected, and resold depends entirely on who’s selling them. Some sellers carefully inspect tread depth, sidewalls, and internal damage. Others don’t. That means two used tires with the same price tag can be very different products. There’s also the issue of wear and age. A tire can look fine on the surface but still be compromised if it’s been patched multiple times, driven underinflated, or sitting unused for years. Older tires can harden over time, which affects grip and performance, even if the tread looks decent. Experts generally agree that used tires can be acceptable in certain situations, especially as short-term replacements, provided buyers check them carefully. Tread depth matters. Sidewalls matter. The manufacturing date matters. And the tire needs to match the vehicle’s specifications. Without that due diligence, a "good deal" can turn into a safety risk. Commenters Share Their Thoughts In Kevin’s comments section, people weighed in from all sides, often based on personal experience. "That’s why you buy tires from a place that offers road hazard insurance with purchase of said tires," one person wrote. Another commenter said they work in the industry and still side with Kevin’s approach. "Man I run a tire shop and still put used tires on my personal cars." Some tried to strike a balance between cost and caution. "Considering your tires are the only part of the car that makes contact with the road, they are pretty important," one person wrote. "I will never cut corners with tires when it comes to safety. That said, used tires are fine if the tread is good and they aren’t 13 yrs old. Check the dates, check the wear and the tread." Others had less positive experiences. "I bought used tires in college when I was broke. Never again," one commenter wrote. "I seen people have blown tires at 60 mph. Not pretty." The debate highlights a familiar tension for drivers. Saving money matters, especially when unexpected repairs keep piling up. At the same time, tires play a critical role in safety, handling, and braking. Motor1 has reached out to Kevin via TikTok and Instagram direct messages for comment. This story will be updated should he reply. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team