What is a Buffed Tire?
2 Answers
Buffed tires, also known as ground-off label tires, are tires where the white barcode located at the tire bead area has been removed. Here is some information about buffed tires: 1. Once the barcode is removed, the tire is no longer considered genuine, and the manufacturer is not responsible for any issues. 2. These are non-warranty products, typically factory-rejected tires with minor defects such as uneven rubber distribution, excessive dynamic balance deviation, or skipped stitches. Additional information: If you must purchase buffed tires, it is advisable to choose well-known brands, as their issues are often limited to excessive dynamic balance deviation, posing a lower risk of blowouts. However, with unbranded buffed tires, not only may there be dynamic balance problems, but there could also be issues like tire bulging.
Wear indicator bars refer to those small raised bumps or lines on the tire tread surface. After driving for 20 years, I pay the most attention to these because when the tire wears down flush with these indicators, the tread depth drops below the safety limit. At this point, traction drastically decreases—wet road braking distances can extend by several meters, significantly increasing risks. I believe checking tire treads weekly during car washes can prevent major disasters; replace them immediately if they're too shallow. Never skimp on this expense—losing control and crashing in rainy conditions could lead to terrifying repair and medical bills. Regular tire replacements also improve fuel efficiency by reducing excessive friction from wear. In short, safe driving starts from the ground up—don't let minor oversights turn tragic.