Do tires expire? What you need to know about the test of time
Every once in awhile you read or hear a story that makes you skeptical. The events sound too unlikely to be true—more like scare tactics or urban legend than anything. (The frequency of email scare scams have probably made us even more suspicious than before.)
This is the tire after the blow out.
We recently heard a story through a tire wholesaler that, at first glance, may seem like it belongs in that category above. But we urge you to hear us out and then, if you’re still not convinced, do some additional reading. We think you’ll find this is a legitimate matter to be aware of.
Our story begins with a consumer recently asking a tire shop to install their spare tire for everyday use on their 2003 Ford F350. The tire looked new, even though it was about 9 years old. It had plenty of tread because it had never been used. Why not put it to use and save the cost of one replacement tire? This seemed perfectly reasonable—or so the motorist thought.
About 6 weeks later, the tire blew out on the highway while the driver was pulling a 45-foot, fifth-wheel trailer. The tire tread tore off the left rear quarter panel of the truck and dented the bottom of the cargo box. Fortunately and miraculously, no one was injured.
Why did this tire blow out? It wasn’t because of faulty installation or debris on the road. It was age. This tire had been manufactured in 2002, and its structural integrity degraded simply through the passage of time. It never should have been installed on the vehicle.
A general rule of thumb: Tires 6 years or older should be taken out of service. (This time frame varies from 6-10 years, depending on whose giving the advice. We would rather err on the side of caution, especially in a public forum.)
We bring this up because the average age of vehicles on the road is now pushing 10 years, and aging tires is something most of us never think about. If you don’t drive very far, you can rack up the years without wearing out the tires. And if you own a car for 7-8-9 years, you’re not going to think twice about using the spare if you have a flat or if you’re trying to install new tires on a really tight budget. After all, we’re taught to judge tires based on tread life and little more.
The reality is that older tires can be a safety risk, and we want you to be aware of that. We’re not advocating that you rush out and replace all your tires after they roll past their sixth birthday. But we are suggesting that you:
- Be aware of the age of your tires. All tires are marked with a manufacturing date from the Department of Transportation. Ask us to take a look for you the next time you’re in for service, or take a look yourself. On your tire sidewall, you’ll find a code that begins with “DOT.” It ends with four numbers: The first two represent the week the tire was manufactured; the other two are the year. We can also help advise you on their condition and any potentials safety risks if they are getting up in years.
- Reserve the spare tire for emergency use, and treat it as a temporary solution to get you off the road safely—whether you have a full-size or space-saver spare. We know you’re busy, but do your best to purchase a safe replacement as soon as possible. Don’t rely on the spare to get you down the road for weeks or months to come. This is especially important in older vehicles and on trucks and SUVs that have the spare tire mounted beneath the vehicle, where it’s relentlessly exposed to the rain, sleet, snow and road salt.
While we know some things—like wine—only improve with age, your tires don’t fall into that category. We urge you to take these basic precautions to avoid unnecessary risks that could end up costing a lot more than a replacement tire.
Think you need new tires because of age, treadwear or other reasons? Hankook Tire is offering $50-$80 in rebates through November 30. Learn more.
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