Some tire manufacturers cite 6 years, others recommend 10 years as the maximum service life for tires. tire identification number (TIN). The last four digits are the week and year of manufacture. Some older tires may have the TIN on the inside sidewall.
Do tire age restrictions apply to tires in-service?
At a recent tire conference, an engineer from a major tire company was remarking on tire aging and the fact that tire age restrictions apply to tires in-service. That caught my attention, because some automobile and tire manufactures say unused tires six years or older should not be put into service. What did he mean by that?
Are 10 year old tires safe to drive?
The tires seem to be in good condition and appear usable based on their external appearance. The wear to the tread has not passed the minimum legal limit. In short, even though a tire older than ten years might seem fine for driving, we still recommend getting new tires for your car.
What happens if a tire is older than 6 years?
Kane and his organization have identified over 250 incidents in which tires older than six years have experienced tread and belt separations — most resulting in loss-of-control and rollover crashes. These incidents were the cause of 233 fatalities and 300 injuries in 2012. Every tire that’s on the road long enough will succumb to age.
How do you know the age of a tire?
But to determine the age of a tire, you simply need to know its U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit DOT code. The first two numbers represent the week in which the tire was made. The second two represent the year. A tire with a DOT code of 1116 was made in the 11th week of 2016.
Do tires crack with age?
If you’ve ever driven on aging tires, you might have noticed small cracks that develop in the sidewall, and even between the treads, of your tires. While this cracking can be a common sign of aging in rubber tires, it is also a sign of potential trouble that drivers need to take seriously.
Why do tyres crack?
Tyres are made up of rubber polymers, and after thousands of miles and months of being on the road, they naturally weaken. This makes the outside of the tyre become hard and brittle, leading it to crack. However, this can also happen if you leave a vehicle in a garage for a few years without driving it.
How do you know if your tires are aging?
It recommends that consumers check tires regularly for any sign of aging, such as tread distortion or large or small hairline cracks in the sidewall. Vibrations or a change in the dynamic properties of the tire could also be an indicator of aging problems, the association said.
What happens to the rubber in a tire as it ages?
The rubber in a tire gets hard as it ages, just as the rubber in other common materials does. You can even poke at tire treads with your fingernail and feel the difference between an old and new tire of the same brand and model.
Do tires expire if not used?
If not used, tires last for 6-10 years, depending on the storage and environmental conditions. Overall, the time limits for stored tires are much the same as for tires that are being used.
Do car tires expire?
Finally, tires can expire due to storage. If tires are stored in a hot or humid environment, the rubber can start to break down prematurely and will affect how long a tire is usable for before it will need replacing. Always store tires in a cool, dry place to help them last as long as possible.
Can you buy an unused tire?
You can buy an unused tire that is a few months or a year old but not more than that. Otherwise, you will not be able to get full use out of it. So if the birth date tells you the unused tire is 5 years old, definitely avoid purchasing it. When purchasing the “new” unused tire, make sure to check with the shop how the tire was stored.
Is it safe to replace a tire that’s 6 years old?
A tire that’s 6 years old or older isn’t safe and should be replaced, regardless of wear. People usually rely on a tire’s tread depth to determine when to replace it. But tire age is critical, too.
Should you keep outdated tires?
The majority of people who take the gamble of keeping outdated tires do so to save money. Driving on outdated tires is risky not only for the driver of the car having those tires but also for other drivers. Take the initiative and change vehicle tires every six years, or sooner, to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation.
