How to tell if your old tires are too old

Just how old is too old when it comes to tires? What you don't know about the tread your riding on could hurt you. Here's what you need to know to stay safe on the road.

[@chickenfarm09]

My tires are about 9 or 10 years old. I don't see sidewall cracks, but I do think the tread feels harder to the touch, and I think they are very noisy. It's hard to spend money I don't have right now on tires. When you look at them the tread is still there.

[@sk8ersbus1]

Thank God she didn't get hurt. WOW, 22 years old!!!! All these news reports about old tires recently prompted me to check mine, resulting in replacing a "brand new" spare tire which turned out to be 18 years old. In picking used tires, it seems its better to get a newer one with half the original tread (but otherwise good condition), than an old one with full tread.

[@edge7375]

Tires even with good thick tread usually show deterioration after 6 years. At 5 years old, the tire must be inspected for hairline cracks around the inner and outer diameter as well as on the tread itself. Also check for flexibility. Tire that has a hardened wall and tread even without cracks is bad. When in doubt, consult a trusted tire center. Do not buy unused tires even at bargain prices if they are over 2 years old after manufacture.

[@grntchstrmdws]

The best analogy that I think people can grasp is that of an old pencil eraser. It won't erase the marks on a page, only smear them. There isn't enough friction between the rubber and the paper to remove the graphite marks. So when the rubber in your tires becomes hard like that it simply won't grip the road when you need to stop abruptly. You'll slide as though you were on ice. I'm speaking from experience, driving a light weight VW Beetle with ten year old Michelins that looked "new." And I wasn't going very fast when I sailed into that round-about and T-boned a guy. Had the pavement been wet, it would have been worse. Fortunately there were no injuries.

[@vivillager]

I hear a lot about replacing tires after they're 6 years old, or 5, or 4, or in some cases I've heard that people should replace tires that are 3 year old. I don't know where these numbers come from, the only one that I know the source of is that there are a lot of vehicle manufacturers who recommend replacing tires more than 6 year old, but these are vehicle manufacturers, not tire manufacturers. A lot of tire manufacturers, such as Michelin and Continental recommend replacing tires 10 years old.

[@jason41a]

it would make sense, as you said, to follow the tire manufacturers' recommendation since they know their tires best. i have a five year old one with some dry rotting (came with the secondhand car i bought a few months ago). should probably replace soon but i'm cheap lol. i really will replace soon!

[@UneducatedGeologist]

Agreed I don't drive alot of miles. In my day I've driven on dozens of tires between 6-10yrs old. I do analyze for early warning signs they are failing.

[@zdavidzz]

Tires Manufactured Before 2000 The Tire Identification Number for tires produced prior to 2000 was based on the assumption that tires would not be in service for ten years. While they were required to provide the same information as today's tires, the week and year the tire was produced was contained in the last three digits. The 2 digits used to identify the week a tire was manufactured immediately preceded a single digit used to identify the year.

[@DeVoN420zz]

1:15 RUBBER DEGRADES BASED ON CONDITIONS WAY MORE THAN TIME, if stored in the perfect conditions it could last very long and still be usable.. tires are layered, most tires blow out from being worn down to metal cords and DRY and overstretched, deforming the metal cords i have 22 year old tires in my basement when digging you nail into the rubber its FLEXABLE...... modern rubber is better than older

[@schneir5]

My tires are 11 years old. I really need to get new ones! I guess I can just wait until it's cold enough to get the snow tires put back on, but that will be a couple months still.

[@matowixunplugged7927]

Richie Schneider mine are 16 years old they are fine if used and maintained and have correct air

[@vivillager]

I hear a lot about replacing tires after they're 6 years old, or 5, or 4, or in some cases I've heard that people should replace tires that are 3 year old. I don't know where these numbers come from, the only one that I know the source of is that there are a lot of vehicle manufacturers who recommend replacing tires more than 6 year old, but these are vehicle manufacturers, not tire manufacturers. A lot of tire manufacturers, such as Michelin and Continental recommend replacing tires 10 years old.

[@arthub2841]

I have used tyres 10 years and even 12 years old with performance and sound OK tread also seems to be in satisfactory condition then why replace tyres

[@jackshaw3730]

My tires 12 years old seem fine

[@pauljr.harrington1905]

This is one of the causes for the fatal $500,000+ Porsche Carrera GT supercar crash.

[@chrisobregon]

😢 R.I.P to them both..

[@annaqsmith]

Yes, I watched AUTOPSY on REELZ with Dr. Michael Hunter. Ultimately , it was the tires that was the cause of death. They were very old tires but had a low amount of miles on them. Dry rotted tires killed the driver & Paul Walker .

[@spiderman01980]

Well, my spare space saver is the original and has never been used. it's over 18 years old, maybe I should change it.

[@chickenfarm09]

Same here

[@amiek9269]

I'm in the AZ desert and my tires are 6 years old. Tread is great still but I'm afraid of the age of the rubber....

[@IDABAYAREA650I]

As long as you dont see any cracks your good

[@grntchstrmdws]

@@IDABAYAREA650I You couldn't be more wrong. The rubber becomes harder and harder as it ages. Heat will accelerate this. Ever pick up an old "new" pencil and try to erase something with the red rubber end? It smears. No friction. That's your old tires, too. They won't grip when you need to brake suddenly. And if the pavement is wet, even less. The heavier your car, the faster you're going, the farther you will travel before you come to a stop. Six years is a reasonable limit before replacing your tires. And when you do, Oh, my! It drives like a new car again. The impact will surprise you.

[@IDABAYAREA650I]

@@grntchstrmdws *Wtf? How are you going to tell me im wrong and you are literally comparing a Pencil eraser to automotive tire rubber Those are completely different types of rubber, No shit a rubber on a pencil has no traction on paper its Smooth as shit the rubber on a tire has the grit of concrete and asphalt thats rough compared to a smooth paper, is like styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), natural rubber, and polybutadiene rubber, Coming from a big tire chain shop i know what im saying, you keep thinking you know whats best to yourself KZbin Technician…*

[@squintero213]

@1:48 what the hell man, you lost your chance to get on that line, take the exit and go around!!

[@Fordahord1]

na bro, he saved it

[@szabib2144]

Let me guess she went to a tire shop and said give me the cheapest tires for $25, I know in California used tires that you get are always legit. Cause even selling used tires few places do it, and you save about $20 bucks but the tires are still in spec, and quality stored inside the tire shop. Those tires look like they were probably in the back of a field with water in them for years.

[@matowixunplugged7927]

My tyres are 16 years old and still going strong

[@aaroncastillo843]

Damm what you running??

[@joaquinlopez5058]

Are you ok?

[@terrelle5087]

My tire is 8 years old. I'm running them sucker to there no more tread. Regardless of the age. Trust me, if I replace them now a used tires dealer will resell them.

[@annaqsmith]

@@terrelle5087you are playing Russian roulette . Tires are nothing to play with. You wanna kill or maim yoursellf, have at it but do not kill, injure or inconvenience anyone else

[@noventay4]

Is not because of the age, but how they were stored, if age was a relevant fact spare tires wouldn't work after 5 years

[@Freedomind901]

spare tires are not meant to be driven for a long period of time

[@kevinoconnell8242]

ALl of these stories came to life when the american people paid off all of the pensions and legacy payments to the auto and tire manunfacturers retired workers so they could rebuild the indistry in china. I have a 1993 Bridgestone expedia that has zero indications of age in out or indeifferent. CHina actually utilized the injection of silicone and now dials in how ling a tire will last which is six years. the reason it that a new tire is rated typically for 20K or higher miles and we are on avg 12k annual so the idea is you will need new one in three years or half of that. that leaves the other three years for the shelves. I have to change my tires now every four years since the tires are usually about 2 years old when you buy them. We need to make china adhere to pollution requirements and if you do that and do not elevate the taxes then america can start to rebuild...

[@rawhideleather]

5 years old? No way! One thing these tire dealers NEVER talk about which is THE most important thing to consider when buying NEW tires. You must check the DOT date of manufacture stamped into the sidewall. Selling out-dated 'new' tires is quite common and has caused many accidents and DEATHS! Tires have a total lifespan of only 6 or 7 years and that is INCLUDING time spent in a warehouse regardless of what the tire manufacturers or resellers might say ($$$). It is quite possible to buy 'new' tires that were actually made 6 years OR MORE ago that are already considered to be UNSAFE tires by the leading automobile makers and should not be sold for any price. The tire industry couldn't care less about your safety obviously. Buyer beware.

[@sgtmatrix]

10 years lifespan from the DOT, but with care and possibly runflat. Six years is just an assurance invention. Avoid buying used tires, as... you don't know.

[@sgtmatrix]

13 years ago, a cop shot into my 7 years old tire for the reason you said. Actually he is paying me 1500 bucks per month and I'm still waiting to see him in tribunal.

[@DJLOVESTURBO183]

Les shwab sold me a 2 year old tire at the price of a new tire. Should I be worried? I feel like they stold 2 years of my tires.

[@DJLOVESTURBO183]

OMG!!!

[@rondhole]

If it is already installed on the cars, it does not matter. IF it is super cheap, why not to use it if it is a good brand and reputation. The tire tread separation usually happens from the bad design of the tires itself, even it is 1 month old. Firestone and many Chinese tires have these problems. it is not from the age of the tires, but from crappy tires

[@DJLOVESTURBO183]

😮

[@bobthebuilder6938]

i cant stand shady company's

[@OldSchoolNoe]

It surprises me how people do not inspect stuff before they buy. Tires she bought were made 22 years ago? C'mon man a 20 second inspection on her part could have prevented all of this.

[@DJLOVESTURBO183]

😢

[@rorybellamy2533]

Why is a "Dr" driving a Dodge and buying used tires ?

[@shicoff1398]

Even with the degree, (if true) she could be out of work and even in debt, or just plain Cheap.

[@NoSuffix]

@@shicoff1398 Yeah, you never know.

[@jaxripper251]

These compmanies need to be sued for shit tires