| What | Size | Asking |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin X-Ice Snow on steel rims — 2 winters, ~50,000 km, DOT 4822 (late 2022) | 215/60R16 | $450 |
| Yokohama Ice Guard + Mazda rims — 4 winters | 16" | $460 |
| "Winter tires with rims" — 2 seasons, off a Caravan | 225/65R17 | $600 |
| Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip on steel rims — "lots of tread", DOT 2004 | 225/60R16 | $200 (and it is not selling) |
| Dunlop (Japan) — 12,000 km only | 235/65R18 | $240 |
The spread is $200-$600 and almost none of it is brand. It is three things, in this order: DOT date code → remaining tread depth → whether rims are included.
The 2004-DOT Goodyear set at $200 is the warning: Ontario buyers know a winter tire's rubber hardens out at 6-8 years regardless of tread, so a 2004 set is scrap with a price tag on it. If his set is older than 2019 (DOT 43xx or higher is fine, 2018 or lower is a problem), price it as a rim sale, not a tire sale.
Measure tread in 32nds at the centre rib and both shoulders (take the lowest of the three):
| Remaining tread | Share of new price | If new was ~$200/tire |
|---|---|---|
| 9-10/32 (effectively new) | 60-70% | $480-$560 |
| 7-8/32 (2-3 seasons left) | 45-55% | $360-$440 |
| 5-6/32 (one good season) | 25-35% | $200-$280 |
| 4/32 or less | scrap — sell the rims | $100-$150 with rims |
New winter tire benchmarks: a 225/65R17 winter tire is roughly $180-$250 each installed, so a new set of four is $720-$1,000 — which is why a good used set at $450-600 for the size-class is the realistic ceiling. Winter tires are legally minimum 1.6 mm (2/32"), but they stop working as winter tires at 6/32" (4.8 mm).
Title (this is 80% of the result — buyers filter by size, so the size goes first):
Winter tires 225/65R17 on steel rims — 8/32" tread — DOT 2022 — set of 4
Body:
Set of 4 [BRAND + MODEL] winter tires, size [SIZE], on [steel/alloy] rims. Tread: [X]/32" centre, [X]/32" shoulders — measured with a gauge, photos of the gauge in the tread included. DOT date code: [WEEK/YEAR] — [N] winters used, about [N] km. [Rims included: 5x114.3 bolt pattern, fits (list the vehicles)] / [tires only]. No punctures, no repairs, no uneven wear. [Optional: TPMS sensors included / not included]. Cash, pickup in [neighbourhood]. First come, first served — I do not hold without a deposit. Price: $[X], firm.
Photos, in this order: all four tires stood up side by side → close-up of the DOT stamp → tread depth gauge in the centre groove → shoulder wear on the worst tire → the rims/bolt pattern → any sidewall marking. Buyers scroll past listings without a DOT photo, because it is the first thing they ask for.
Winter tire demand in the GTA spikes the week of the first snowfall and again when the tire-change shops book out — typically the first two weeks of November. Listing now captures the early, price-insensitive buyers; listing in mid-November captures volume but competes with everyone else.
To price it properly I need: size (e.g. 225/65R17), brand/model, remaining tread in 32nds, DOT week/year, and whether rims are included. Give me those five and the ad above is finished with a real price on it.
Sources: Kijiji Toronto tires & rims live listings (25 Oct 2026); winter tire aging guidance (rubber compound hardening from 6 years); Ontario minimum tread depth 1.6 mm.