Tires Expire?! Why You Should Be Rocking Freshies This Season.

Did you know that rubber is an organic compound? Just like all organic compounds, rubber breaks down over time. This dramatically affects the usefulness of your tires. As rubber breaks down, as it pertains to tires, the rubber actually loses elasticity and becomes a lot more fragile. So, how do you know when a tire is close to being reliable… or even dangerous to drive on.  

What Happens When A Tire Is Old.

As the composition of the tire breaks down, the tire becomes more brittle and can lead to cracks and pieces of the tire actually breaking off. As these cracks worsen in the tire it can actually cause the fiber belts within the tire to separate and breakaway.

In a study conducted by Safety Research & Strategies, INC. they found that in 2012 alone there were 252 accidents directly related to a tires age resulting in 233 deaths and 300 injuries. These could have been from de-treading, cracks, etc. When tires age this dramatically they pose a huge threat to loss of control and rollover.

How Long Can A Tire Last?

While there is no set “expiration age” that is officially dictated by any agency. Michelin was the first to suggest their tires could last 10 years with yearly inspections after 5 years. However, most tire manufacturers suggest that a tire be decommissioned after 6 years, regardless of treadwear.

How Do We Know How Old A Tire Is?

Just like anything else there is an expiration date. Well… sorta. Ever since the year 2000 tire manufacturers have been printing a DOT code that lets you know when the tire is made. There will be a four-digit numerical code that will be on the sidewall. The first two digits let you know what week of the year the tire was created, and the last two digits denote the year. So, if it says 3220 the tire was created on the 32nd week of 2020.

Before 2000 the DOT code was a three digit code that is preceded by a triangle. The first two digits denote the week, while the last digit says the year. For obvious reasons this wasn’t the most ideal way to let people know how old their tires are. Either your tire is too old to be safe, or pretty new. This leaves it on you to inspect the tire for imperfections to figure out the age. However, if you see this code GO GET NEW TIRES RIGHT NOW! That means your tire is over 20 years old and is in now way safe to drive on. Seriously, stop reading this and go get new tires.

The Word.

Tires can be expensive and replacing tires that still have tread can be a major bummer. However, it is a massive safety issue and is a pill that needs to be swallowed regardless of how tough it is. When it comes to safety, the only choice is the is the right one.

In 2013 the world learned the hard way how important tire expiration, and safety is, especially with performance tires when Paul Walker lost control of Porshe Carrera GT. The world lost a talented actor who highlighted the world of motorsports that day. According to the California Highway Patrol Walker’s 9-year-old tires may have been to blame.

Every tragedy caused by tire age is preventable and can be used as a lesson to properly maintain and change out your tires. If you have any questions about tire expiration, check in with your tire manufacturer’s specifications which should be accessible on their websites.