Used Tires Market Size, CAGR & Forecast, 2025-2035

Price pressure on new tires keeps second-hand demand growing even as import bans tighten

Second-hand tires sold for reuse, the used tires market, reached USD 7.62 Billion in 2025 and is forecast at USD 7.86 Billion in 2026 and USD 10.42 Billion by 2035, a 3.18% CAGR.

Radial Insights defines the used tires market as the value of pneumatic tires that are removed from a vehicle with usable tread and resold for further road use, either directly (part-worn tires) or as casings sold to retreaders. It covers domestic resale through independent shops, tire dealers and online sellers as well as international trade in used tires under HS code 4012.20. We exclude scrap tires sent to recycling, tire-derived fuel, pyrolysis or civil engineering, new and retreaded tire sales, and the value of retreading labor.

The supply base is large. USTMA's 2025 End-of-Life Tire Market Report, released in October 2026, shows 316 million tires hauled in the US on a gross basis and 273 million end-of-life tires after used-tire culls for resale were subtracted, which implies roughly 43 million tires pulled for resale by our calculation. UN Comtrade data show world exports of used pneumatic tires of about USD 584 Million in 2023, led by Japan and the UAE.

Online marketplaces are the fastest-growing sales channel at a 6.85% CAGR, and Africa is the fastest-growing region at 4.36%. Europe grows slowest at 1.95% as part-worn enforcement tightens in the UK and EU markets favor new budget tires.

Policy is pulling in two directions. Tariff-driven price rises on new tires, such as Sumitomo Rubber's increases of up to 25% in the US from May 2025, push cost-conscious drivers toward used tires. At the same time, Thailand, Mexico and Kuwait tightened rules on used tire imports or sales during 2025 and 2026, which reshapes trade flows in the used tires market.

Online sales, truck casings and high-tread grades grow faster than the street-corner part-worn trade

The used tires market is shifting from informal roadside selling toward graded, documented and online sales. Segments tied to quality checks, retreading and digital channels outgrow those that depend on low-grade, low-price stock. The table lists Radial Insights' CAGR estimates for 2025 to 2035.

Passenger tires lead in volume while light truck and SUV tires grow fastest

Passenger car tires make up most used tire units because light-duty tires were 274 million of the 316 million tires hauled in the US in 2025, according to USTMA. Their segment grows at 2.70%. Light truck and SUV tires grow at 3.85% because new LT tires carry higher prices and larger sizes, so the saving from buying used is larger. Truck and bus tires grow at 3.60%, supported by casing demand from retreaders, and two-wheeler tires grow at 3.20%.

Online channels grow nearly three times as fast as independent shops

Independent used tire shops remain the largest channel but grow at only 2.40% as enforcement visits in the UK and elsewhere raise compliance costs. Online marketplaces grow at 6.85%, led by sellers such as Champtires, United Tires and individual dealers on eBay Motors who post tread depth photos and ship to fitting centers. Wholesale and export traders grow at 3.10%, slowed by import bans, while tire dealers and service centers grow at 3.30% by reselling trade-in sets.

Dismantler supply grows faster than culls from scrap streams

Culls taken from end-of-life tire collection grow at 3.15%. Vehicle dismantlers grow at 3.70% because salvage yards increasingly grade and list tires online. Fleet and dealer trade-ins grow at 2.80% since many fleets now contract casings straight to retreaders.

Casings for retreading outpace direct reuse

Direct reuse grows at 2.95%. Casings for retreading grow at 3.90% because retread programs from Bridgestone Bandag and others depend on a steady flow of sound truck casings, and casing dealers such as TireCore International report spare capacity to handle more volume.

Premium grades grow fastest as buyers and regulators demand more tread

Premium grade tires above 6 mm grow at 4.10% because buyers pay more for near-new sets. Standard grade grows at 3.05%. Budget grade tires close to the 2 mm UK legal minimum grow at only 2.10% as enforcement targets this end of the trade.

Market Trends

Import-dependent countries are closing their borders to used tires

In June 2025, Thailand's Ministry of Commerce banned imports of used and retreaded tires for cars, motorcycles and bicycles, allowing used truck and bus tires only for retreading and re-export. Thailand had been the world's largest importer of used tires in 2023, at about USD 78 Million under HS 401220. In August 2025, Mexico published a presidential decree banning the temporary import of used tires. Exporters in Japan, the UAE and Europe are redirecting volume to Africa and other open markets.

US export of end-of-life and used tires has surged

USTMA's October 2026 report shows US tire exports rose 270%, from 253 thousand tons in 2023 to 936 thousand tons in 2025, making exports the third-largest end market. Part of this flow is reusable tread sold overseas, which links US tire disposal fees to used tire demand in Latin America and Africa.

Online listing and grading are professionalizing resale

Sellers increasingly list used tires with tread depth photos, DOT dates and free shipping to installers. Champtires runs a B2B free-shipping program, and United Tires markets used and driven-once tires with 60% to 99% remaining tread. These practices widen the buyer pool beyond local shops.

Joint enforcement operations target part-worn sellers in the UK

In June 2025, Lancashire Trading Standards, TyreSafe and police found that all 30 part-worn tires inspected at three Preston garages failed legal requirements. In August 2026, TyreSafe reported that 36% of 191 part-worns inspected in Norfolk were dangerous. Repeated operations are pushing UK sellers toward better grading or out of the trade.

Restraints and Challenges

Safety concerns and weak compliance in the part-worn trade

UK law under the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 requires an inflation test, at least 2 mm of tread and a permanent PART-WORN mark. TyreSafe inspections have found 94% of part-worns sold illegally and more than 60% dangerous, and the Department for Transport recorded 384 incidents involving defective tires in 2023 with 13 deaths.

Import bans and quotas shrink export outlets

Thailand's June 2025 ban, Mexico's August 2025 decree and Mexico's quota rules for border states issued in January 2025 all reduce the volume that exporters can place. Kuwait enforces a ban on trading used tires and tires more than 24 months past production, and in May 2026 authorities seized 60 tires sold through social media.

Basel Convention rules may raise documentation costs

The Basel Convention technical guidelines on used and waste pneumatic tyres are being updated under decision BC-17/6, with comments closed in September 2025. Tighter definitions that separate reusable tires from waste could require more inspection and paperwork for each shipment.

Cheap new budget tires compete on price

Low-cost new tires from Asian producers narrow the price gap with used tires in many markets. US dealers reported falling sell-out in April and May 2025 as consumers traded down to tier-3 new tires, which competes directly with used tire offers. Data on reuse volumes is also thin, as USTMA's end-of-life tire report counts culls only as the gap between gross and net generation.

Growth Drivers

Tariffs and inflation raise new tire prices and push buyers to used sets

New tire prices in the US rose sharply after 2025 tariff changes. Sumitomo Rubber announced US and Canadian price increases of up to 25% on passenger and light truck tires from May 2025, and up to 10% on truck, bus and two-wheeler tires. A used set with 6 mm or more of tread sells at a clear discount to a comparable new set, so price-sensitive drivers, gig-economy workers and owners of older cars switch to used tires. USTMA expects US replacement passenger shipments to stay flat at about 221.6 million units in 2025, which indicates that part of the replacement need is met outside new tire channels. We estimate tariff-led price gaps add about +0.8% to annual growth in the used tires market, mostly in North America and Latin America.

Retreading programs need a steady flow of sound truck casings

Retreading saves fleets money and material, and every retread needs a used casing. Bridgestone Bandag's Retread Instead campaign found that 30% of 13 million rejected casings could have been retreaded again. Casing dealers have capacity to grow: TireCore International handles more than 95,000 units a year and says it can process over 200,000, while TRS in Morecambe collects more than 400,000 truck casings a year and exports to over 30 countries. Thailand still permits used truck and bus tire imports for retreading and re-export under its June 2025 rules. This casing demand contributes roughly 0.7 percentage points of yearly growth and lifts the casings for retreading segment to a 3.90% CAGR.

Aging vehicle fleets in emerging markets keep demand for low-cost tires high

Large parts of Africa, Latin America and South Asia run older imported vehicles whose owners cannot afford new premium tires. Japan's JATMA reported that 158 thousand tons of whole used tires were exported in 2019, about 15% of all tires generated, and Kokubu Shokai alone ships about 120 forty-foot containers a month to more than 50 countries. EU exports of used tires outside the bloc rose from USD 80.4 Million in 2019 to USD 146.6 Million in 2023, with Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Benin among the main destinations. This demand from aging fleets is the main reason Africa grows fastest, and we estimate it adds about +1.0% to global annual growth.

Opportunities

Certified and graded used tire programs

Sellers that inspect, test and certify tread depth, age and repair history can command higher prices and meet stricter rules. A certified grading standard would suit regulators in the UK and Gulf states that are cracking down on unsafe sales.

Digital marketplaces linking dismantlers and fitting centers

Online platforms that pool stock from salvage yards, fleet trade-ins and dealers, then ship to local installers, can scale quickly. Online channels already grow at 6.85% in our forecast and could take a larger share of premium grade sales.

Asia Pacific supplies and consumes the most used tires, while Africa grows fastest

Regional patterns reflect where tires are scrapped early, where they are resold and which governments allow imports. The table at the end shows each region's values.

Asia Pacific (APAC)

Asia Pacific (APAC) held a 28.50% share of the used tires market in 2025, worth USD 2,171.70 Million, and is forecast to reach USD 3,033.93 Million by 2035 at a 3.40% CAGR. Japan is the world's largest exporter of used pneumatic tires with about USD 114 Million in 2023, a 19.5% share of world exports. Thailand was the largest importer at about USD 78 Million before its June 2025 ban on passenger tire imports, and casing trade for retreading continues across Southeast Asia.

North America

North America accounted for 24.80% of 2025 revenue, or USD 1,889.76 Million, and should reach USD 2,552.03 Million by 2035 at a 3.05% CAGR. USTMA data imply about 43 million US tires were culled for resale in 2025 out of 316 million hauled. Mexico's August 2025 decree banning temporary imports of used tires and its border-state quotas cut cross-border flows from the US.

Europe

Europe represented an 18.60% share in 2025, about USD 1,417.32 Million, and will grow to USD 1,719.25 Million by 2035 at a 1.95% CAGR, the slowest of any region. The UK sells an estimated 6 to 8 million part-worn tires a year, and EU exports of used tires outside the bloc reached USD 146.6 Million in 2023. Enforcement operations in Lancashire and Norfolk in 2025 and 2026 are squeezing low-grade sellers in Europe.

Latin America

Latin America held 11.40% of 2025 revenue, worth USD 868.68 Million, and is forecast at USD 1,201.89 Million by 2035 with a 3.30% CAGR. Demand in Latin America is strongest among taxi, delivery and older-car owners. Mexico's 2025 rules require firms to prove disposal of 80% of authorized used tires by September 2025 or lose quotas for 2026 and 2027.

Africa

Africa accounted for 10.20% of the used tires market in 2025, about USD 777.24 Million, and will reach USD 1,190.96 Million by 2035 at a 4.36% CAGR, the fastest of any region. Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Benin are among the top destinations for used tires exported from the EU. Older vehicle fleets and limited access to new premium tires keep Africa dependent on imported used sets.

Middle East

The Middle East took a 6.50% share in 2025, worth USD 495.30 Million, and should reach USD 722.66 Million by 2035 at a 3.85% CAGR. The UAE was the world's second-largest exporter of used tires in 2023 with about USD 80 Million, a 13.8% share, acting as a re-export hub. Kuwait bans the sale of used tires and seized 60 such tires sold online in May 2026.

Recent Developments

• In October 2026, USTMA released its 2025 End-of-Life Tire Market Report, showing 273 million end-of-life tires after used-tire culls and a 270% rise in exports since 2023.

• In August 2026, TyreSafe reported joint operations with Trading Standards and police in which 36% of 191 part-worn tires inspected in Norfolk were dangerous.

• In June 2026, The Motor Ombudsman's WORN-WARN part-worn awareness campaign won a TyreSafe award after research found nearly one in three UK adults would consider buying part-worn tires.

• In May 2026, Kuwait's Commerce and Interior Ministries seized 60 used and expired tires sold through social media under Ministerial Resolution 216/2014.

• In August 2025, Mexico published a presidential decree banning the temporary import of used tires, a measure welcomed by rubber industry chamber CNIH.

• In June 2025, Thailand's Ministry of Commerce banned imports of used and retreaded passenger, motorcycle and bicycle tires, allowing used truck and bus tires only for retreading and re-export.

Casing dealers and exporters control cross-border volume, while online sellers win retail growth

The used tires market has no dominant global player. Tens of thousands of small shops, salvage yards and traders sell second-hand tires, while a handful of specialized casing dealers, exporters and online retailers handle the organized volume. We group the main players into four clusters.

Truck casing dealers serving retreaders

TireCore International in California supplies retreaders with truck casings, handling more than 95,000 units a year with capacity for over 200,000, and runs casing programs for fleets and municipalities. TRS in Morecambe, UK, collects more than 400,000 truck casings a year and exports to more than 30 countries. Vellco in Yorkshire combines tire collection with a growing casing export business.

European and Japanese used tire exporters

Kargro Banden in the Netherlands, part of Kargro Group, stores up to 200,000 casings and ships to more than 40 countries. Kurz Karkassenhandel in Germany describes itself as Europe's oldest used tire and casing trader. Kokubu Shokai, trading as KKB Tire, has exported used tires from Japan since 1981 and serves about 140 customers in more than 50 countries.

Online used tire retailers and marketplaces

Champtires in Pennsylvania sells used tires online with a B2B free-shipping program for installers. United Tires, operated by LIMPIC Inc. in Chicago, sells used, driven-once and retread tires with stated remaining tread of 60% to 99%. eBay Motors hosts many independent sellers listing used car and truck tires with photos and tread measurements.

Retreaders as casing buyers

Bridgestone Bandag operates one of North America's best-known retread networks and sources casings through its dealers. Its Retread Instead campaign highlighted that 30% of 13 million rejected casings could have been retreaded, which shapes how casing dealers grade and price stock. Competition across all four clusters centers on grading accuracy, logistics cost and compliance with import rules that change frequently.