used tires good or bad idea??

Its good you know where they came from.
I would prefer using my own worn truck tires for trailer over buying new ST tires.

GOOD

If you did not get the wheels also they sound too expensive with just 30 percent left. Since you mentioned valve stems I guess you got the wheels. I run used tires on well loaded utility trailers however I take care in selecting them, load range D always.

tboss wrote:
I recently purchased a set of Firestone tires for my 27 ft coachman Santara that are one year old ,and abt a third of the thread left on them ,,they ride very smooth and balance on them is perfect, they were taken off an EMT ambulance..I gave $$160 for 5 of them with the heavy duty brass valve stems..GOOD or Bad idea??????

Firestones (I assume Transforce HT) and only a year old, for $160? Go for it!

Sounds like you did your homework and made a well informed decision. Just because it is not what some people would be comfortable doing does not make it a bad choice.

Something some of this discussion does not address is that the quality of the used tires you bought could very well be much better than buying a lesser quality new tire.

Just check the date of manufacture and don't go over 5 or maybe 6 years from D.O.M. :)

These used tires were on a local ambulance service and there maint. schedule is as stringent as UPS,, every day tire and oil inspections, so I doubt they have ever been run low. Here in Milton Fl where I live we have very good roads no pot holes or rough surface. One thing that convenience me to go with used tires is that these tires have no uneven wear or checking so that tells me the rotation and balance is part of their maint, program they actually ride as smooth as new tires. In my opinion the thickness of the thread has nothing to do with a blow out,, its the condition of the inner part of the tire is where the tire gets it strength so a tire that has a dot code of 0613 ((as mine do))is as stable as a tire with only 10,000 miles on it with a code of 0613. If I change these tires every two years and each time they have a one year code date on them that means that every 2 years I will have a fresh set of tires ((with some wear agreed)) but I will have only spent 480.00 over a 6 year period ,or I cld spend 1000.00 dollars for a new set of tires go around the block 3 times and will be running a USED set of tires for 6 years. Makes sense to me.

You got a great deal! I might be a little hesitant about running them on the steers but on the back go for it. Probably 75% of class 8's and 90% of trailers are running used tires.
Funny a couple of posters just answered with the word "Bad", nothing further. Would you care to expand a bit or is your opinion so great that it is to be accepted as gospel

BAD

tboss wrote:
I recently purchased a set of Firestone tires for my 27 ft coachman Santara that are one year old ,and abt a third of the thread left on them ,,they ride very smooth and balance on them is perfect, they were taken off an EMT ambulance..I gave $$160 for 5 of them with the heavy duty brass valve stems..GOOD or Bad idea??????

LOL. Brings back old memories.
I ran used 15"16" tires on my trailers for 3-4 years when on the road when I first started my hauling business. With 28 tires on the ground running daily I needed every cent for growing my business.
No issues from running used tires other than they were ready for replacement after 35k-40k miles. After I started making money I bought new tires with up to 60k-70k miles or so before ready for replacement.