"Used tires wholesale" is searched about 590 times a month worldwide, according to Ubersuggest, with "affordable used tires wholesale" about 320, "used tires wholesale distributor" about 140 and "export used tires" about 40. The volumes are small, and most of the searchers are buyers looking for stock, which is a useful signal for a seller: a market exists for graded used tires in quantity. This guide explains how bulk buyers grade a lot, what to prepare, who buys and how the used-versus-waste line affects exports. It is the part of our guide to selling scrap cars, car parts and used tires online that best fits a marketplace, and it follows where to sell used tires. We give no prices. We operate ScrapTrade, a scrap marketplace, and gain from trade like this.
What bulk buyers grade on
A buyer of a lot sorts it by the same things that decide whether a single tire is saleable, as our retail guide describes: tread depth, age from the DOT code, sidewall condition and repairs. Add size and brand, which determine which customers want it. A lot with a consistent profile is easier to price than a mixed one. For truck tires, retreaders and casing dealers grade casings on age and condition, and one source says most quality retread plants cap casings at five to seven years from the date code. We found no source for what grades are paid, so we say nothing about price.
Who buys in bulk
- Wholesalers and distributors. They take graded used tires for resale through retailers and online channels.
- Exporters. They ship used tires to markets where demand is steady, subject to the rules below.
- Retreaders and casing dealers. For sound truck and aircraft casings.
- Recyclers. For the tires that fail grading, usually at a cost, as our scrap tire buyers guide explains.
What to prepare
- Grade by tread and age. Set aside anything below the minimum or damaged.
- Count by size and brand. A table by size is the first thing a buyer asks for.
- Photograph the lot and samples. Show tread, sidewalls and date codes.
- Say what you know. Repairs, storage and whether the tires came off wrecked vehicles.
- Agree terms. Price basis, currency, who loads and ships, and when payment is made.
- Keep records. Counts, photos and paperwork for each shipment.
Export: used or waste?
Exporting used tires raises the same question as exporting used cars: is the load used goods or waste? The Basel Convention's technical guidelines on used and waste pneumatic tyres were adopted in 2000 and revised several times, and a draft revision was open for comment in 2025, so they are still moving. Classification is disputed: a US EPA presentation notes disagreement over whether reused materials such as used tires are Basel hazardous wastes. India's customs notice places waste pneumatic tyres under Basel code B3140 only where they lead to recovery, recycling or direct reuse. Controls differ by country: India restricts used-tire imports and allows them only with authorization, and Australia regulates waste tire exports by licence under rules made in 2021. One industry publication alleges that used tires have been exported as retreaded tires to avoid waste import rules, which we treat as an advocacy claim, and a commercial guide that says waste tires are listed as hazardous under Basel conflicts with the other sources, so we do not rely on it.
We did not find a consolidated list of countries that ban used-tire imports. The practical rule is to ask the buyer for the importing country's written rule, the permits needed and who holds them, before you agree a sale. See our companion on export rules for used cars for the same used-versus-waste logic.
Where ScrapTrade fits
A lot with a count and a grade is the form in which tires are most likely to suit a marketplace, because several buyers can bid on the same description. ScrapTrade connects sellers with verified traders in over 50 countries, charges nothing to list and takes no commission. Terms are agreed in live chat, shipping included, and accepting a bid moves 5 percent of the price from the buyer into escrow. Private sellers and businesses alike can sell once verified. Grading, export permits and compliance are not ScrapTrade's job and stay with seller and buyer. We could not confirm that used tires can be listed or how they are classified, so email cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
What we could not verify
- What bulk used tires sell for. We found no reliable source.
- Which countries ban used-tire imports. We found no consolidated list.
- The current Basel text. The guidelines are under revision and we relied on summaries.
- Whether ScrapTrade accepts tires.
Frequently asked questions
Who buys used tires in bulk?
Wholesalers, exporters, retreaders for sound casings and recyclers for tires that fail grading. Terms vary.
Can I export used tires?
Often, but importing countries set rules, and the line between used and waste tires is disputed. Get the written rule from the buyer first.
How are used tires graded?
By tread depth, age from the DOT code, sidewall condition, repairs, size and brand.
Do bulk used tires belong on a marketplace?
A graded lot with a count is the best fit, but whether ScrapTrade accepts tires is unconfirmed, so check with support before listing.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, global, queried November 2026.
- Basel Convention Secretariat pages on used and waste tyres, an India customs public notice and Australia's 2021 rules on exporting waste tyres, as summarised in search results.
- Retread Tire Association and trade-press coverage of casing grading, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
Not legal or trade advice. Export rules change often, so confirm with the importing authority first.