Why old tyres are dangerous, and how to tell the age of your tyre

#tyres #tyreage #dot #dotcode
The age of your tyre is when it was manufactured, not when you bought it.
Old tyres are very dangerous - they don't grip well, and are prone to failure - so here's how to tell the age of your tyre, and where you'll typically find older tyres. Links to prove the point:
Australian NSW RTA
roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.....
Bridgestone
www.bridgestone.com.au/learn/...
Tyre & Rim Association
tyreandrim.org.au/is-tyre-age...
Post any questions in the comments!
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[@tedsmith_photography]

This was really useful - thank you. I have one of the car categories you mention - a classic car (1972). The tyres on it have plenty of grip, no cracks etc, but, they are 16 years old! Also, I only use the car occasionally, once a week on average Spring till Autumn, and I keep putting off renewing them but I really must. Your explanation, and your case studies, have definately centred my focus!

[@shertalk1528]

This is underrated video. Nice in depth explanation. I'm planning to change mine tomorrow, tire looks perfectly fine, until you look really close. Age and sitting for too long is making it wear without visual signs. As a careful driver, I notice skidding while cornering and pressing gas, worse in rainy seasons. After all, tires are cheap compared to wrecked car, or safety of yours and others.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it helped!

[@DarrylLawson]

Excellent video, thanks! This validates my pushing for 5 wheel rotations at service - mechanics seemed surprised when you ask.

[@L2SFBC]

Maximise tyre life!

[@NotMyRealNameBro]

Can you explain a little more on the 5 wheel rotation?

[@timothyevans1124]

@@NotMyRealNameBro rotate your full size spare as well as the 4 that are on your wheels. That way it doesnt sit in your trunk for years. Hope that helped.

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

I learned about tire age the hard way in a 4runner. Got a flat tire and put on the spare that looked brand new, and had never been used. The problem was the spare had been original equipment and the car was 15 years old. The tire delaminated on the way home at highway speeds. Thankfully the inner steel belt remained intact and I was able to pull over to the side. Lesson learned.

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks, always good to hear such stories!

[@georgetteconstant9050]

This video was most useful because having a low milage car (2010 and very close to 10,000 miles) no one has talked about that. Car lives on the curb too. I experienced dry rot when I was given my mothers car and learned about it when a tire failed (lucky was on a slow street). On my present car, I got new tires in 2016, and got to thinking about new ones all around again now (Oct '21) Even though I know how to find the DOT date-I could not make it out on my tires but I could see just a bit of minor dry rot. So I got new tires today and it feels great! Thing is, the reputable shop told me that it wasn't very bad and to check it again next year when I came back for inspection. But, you know, peace of mind is everything. I viewed this video after I discussed this with the shop. I asked them to tell me the date on the tire, but no matter really because they had to be at best 2016.(they were 2014 btw) So I called them back and said I did want the new tires. Done! So thanks again.

[@L2SFBC]

Wonderful to hear!!

[@Andrea_Abitino]

Just changed tires on my mini one 2018. She had the first pair of shoes dated to 2018. Now I’m driving with 15/24 tyres and the difference is IMPRESSIVE. Tyre treads weren’t damaged at all but the tire had difficult in managing hard breaking forces..now everything is better, handling, breaking, noise and less shock due to more flexible compound. The old one was definitely stiff.

[@L2SFBC]

That new-tyre feeling eh! Thank you for the comment, useful. You'll also be glad if you need to make a sudden stop in the wet!

[@spiderman01980]

I have plenty on tread on my tyres. The problem is I only do around 3000 miles a year as I walk to work and only drive it at the weekend. I'm going to a friends in a few months who lives over 100 miles away, and I was checking my spare. It's the original space saver that has never been used, 18 years old. I also check the tyres on the car, and they'll be 6 years old in April. The owners manual on the car states not to use any tyres older than 6 years, some sites say you can use them for up to 10 years, but to get them regularly checked from the 7th year. I think I am just going to get a new set of 5 tyres in April and play it safe. UPDATE : I did an oil change at the weekend round a friend's house, and we did some checks all over and found a nail in one tyre. I left the nail in and drove home. When I got home, I had a better look and found cracks between the treads. Looks like I'll be ordering new tyres sooner than I thought. The dates on the tyres are week14year18, so they didn't even make it to 6 years.

[@hectorfuji]

Thank you for the Carrera GT comment, dis not know it had old tires.

[@Mustanggt-jh6dl]

Great information thanks

[@marklittler784]

One thing is for sure a new set of tyres on a car make it feel more comfortable especially after balancing and the steering becomes a lot easier and more responsive with new tyres on the front.

[@billkallas1762]

I somewhat agree that if a car sits outside, exposed to sun, rain, snow, Oxygen and UV radiation, the rubber will degrade over time. The more of these you eliminate, the longer your tires will be safe. The ideal situation will be a low milage, garage kept car that is used a few times a week, with tires filled with Nitrogen. Even with all of this, 10 years is the limit.

[@L2SFBC]

Agreed

[@iandavies7777]

Thanks for the very informative video, I bought a vw Touran from Ross Cars Swansea, I took it to the main dealer for a proper check up, one tyre was 15 years old & the other tyre was 20 years old!! The car is 12 year old & it was MOT’ed two weeks before I bought it!! Not happy as i did use it to ferry my wife & five children around 😡 But thanks for video

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it helped, please share!

[@georgetteconstant9050]

Thank you for this.

[@kevinhitt719]

it is now 2022 I bought a small 5x8 trailer build date 1997 one thing I do when buying any vehicle is look at the tires I saw dry rot between what looked like very good tread but the side walls looked great even so I knew I would be replacing tires after watching this I now know they are OEM dated 1996 that kinda scared me

[@mamba101]

Good video, one thing I think isn't well understood though is that thread doesn't provide grip, it's only there to move water out and away from the tyre to allow contact with the road and stop aquaplaning

[@L2SFBC]

That is true for bitumen, but offroad tread does provide grip.

[@WorldOfSinMusic]

Very useful video and absolutely true. I once bought a set of used turbo wheels for my Porsche 911 with ‘as good as new’ Michelin pilot sport alpins on them and at first they seemed alright. It was cold but dry and they were grippy. But then it started to rain… I almost spun off two times and was lucky I didn’t damage my car. Then I learned the fronts where 17 years old, the rears 15 years old. They looked brand new. Very dangerous indeed and I felt stupid I didn’t check the DOT code. Because of the looks it didn’t even come up to me. Will never ever buy used tires again.

[@L2SFBC]

That's a real risk with performance cars as they get driven fast, and not often so tyres frequently look ok tread-wise. And it's in the wet and/or cold when you find out the effect of age. Thank you for posting!

[@WorldOfSinMusic]

@@L2SFBC I was driving slowly so I guess that’s why I didn’t actually crash. It has a good amount of torque though, so it just goes. Learned my lesson :) Thanks for the video. Very educational.

[@L2SFBC]

You're welcome, please share!

[@marklittler784]

Generally it's a vehicles rubber components like engine mountings, wiper blades, door, window and boot seals, bushes and depth of tyre tread that make a car comfortable and pleasant to be in, obviously more depth of tread and side wall height the more insulation between the car and the road.

[@fasteddy07]

Very informative video!

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks!

[@michaeleilkamerer2098]

Thanks very much for very valuable information.Michael Einkamerer.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful! Please share :-)

[@Adlemtbadv]

Nice one mate. Just what I was after 👍🏻

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it helped

[@shankarbalan3813]

So far I have indeed followed the practice of changing out all the tyres on my cars when they attain the age of 5 or 6 years. Yes indeed the do become harder and less pliable. And on sporty little cars the braking and cornering causes the tyres to chirrup and / or squeal so we know they arent gripping nearly as well as they ought. For SUV and beater vehicles the tyres are basically of a harder compound with the focus on tyre life and durability under rough conditions, but even so, it is worth looking at a change at least once in 6 years because these tyres also do get harder with age. There may seem to be a lot of tread left in them, but their age is a silent danger sign. Not worth ignoring. And like the man says, constant use, keeps the tyres flexing constantly. So it is best to give all ones vehicles a run now and then, atleast once a week or more. And indeed it is quite a coincidence that I actually changed all my tyres today!

[@dipimage1935]

Thank you!

[@L2SFBC]

You're welcome! Please share!

[@xXxMCmanxXx]

very good advice, on my way to buy a low milage 4 year old car right now so this will be a good bargining chip!

[@L2SFBC]

Exactly right!

[@tpv59]

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

[@yatablah393]

I found used winter tires that have tons of tread and no cracks but they are 10 years old. Kept inside. Guess I should forget about buying them?

[@L2SFBC]

Don't buy unless you plan to open a tyre museum.

[@sabrinaruizable]

thankyou this is need to know information my father never told me !

[@L2SFBC]

Or you mother?

[@marklittler784]

Great these modern cars that tell you a tyre has deflated so there's less chance you ruin a punctured tyre or wheel, sometimes you can get false alarms though because the tyre has deflated or inflated a few pounds due to heat or cold whilst driving

[@Duijnkiller]

Does old tires make more noise. if so how much dB compare to new one? My one is 6 years old.

[@aamannadal7419]

I too have a set of 2008 AS tires and they are still great. The grip is perfect.

[@jac1799]

Reply if you're still alive...😅

[@thetoughcookie3665]

It's not so simple as this. OFC you can throw away tires for how much as you like, but if you compare to sunny California for against Finnish summer averagely, those tires get much more UV radiation against them. So it's easily few tens of percents which less they have to do on that time. And I hope that no-one is not storaging their tires on direct sunlight. I do decrease even the pressure on them a bit for the storage duration of summer tires at winter, when we have winter tires on use.

[@kosterjibonshahed9275]

Thanks 👍

[@L2SFBC]

Welcome 👍

[@RelakS__]

Today I have found a spare tyre in the trunk from 2002 (yes, 2002). Even thoug it literally was not used an was int the trunk the whole time, I suspect that it might worth to change... :D

[@L2SFBC]

I think maybe yes....

[@peterrudy9207]

You could apply 303 Protectant to resist drying out and cracking of your tires . Watch the KZbin Channel , Sweet Project Cars ?

[@mstang61]

I have a set of toyo RTs that has a year of 2013 on them, they have about 10k miles on them. I took them off in 2013 because I was towing heavy loads, so I changed to a better tire for towing. I've been toying with putting them back on since the tread looks brand new. I guess I should of just sold them when I took them off. Would anyone put that tire back on now?

[@L2SFBC]

No!

[@QnA22]

Great vid! I wonder about buying tires of several years old in a tire shop? Can the rubber be trusted or should we be cautious as we dont know the conditions they were kept in? Or even one pair of 2 year old tires and another pair of 3 year old tires? Could the compound be different and possibly have disastrous breaking behavior?

[@L2SFBC]

Always check the date on the tyre, even 'new' ones. Yes, best that all tyres have the same manufacturer date.

[@eivindvh87]

The industry standard, from my understanding, is that tires kept in storage, can be sold as "new tires" until they are five years old. However the customer should be given a heads up if the tires are more than three years old. The rubber should keep it`s properties for five years if propperly stored. I read this on a tire shop`s website.

[@cameronwood1994]

A couple of years ago a piece of legislation came into force in the UK that prohibits the use of tyres over 10 years old on the front axle of commercial vehicles over 3500 kg, buses, minibuses, and coaches, and also to the rear axles of the above vehicles unless they are fitted with twin wheels; indeed they will fail their roadworthy test. This was partly in response to the deaths of three people 11 years ago on a coach whose tyres were 19 years old. It would be so much better if this applied to all vehicles, irrespective of position or whether it's single or twin wheel.

[@L2SFBC]

Agreed!

[@mynameisjeff8860]

My Yamaha xj 550 tires are probably still from 1982, but I'm still struggling to change them because there is still rubber on them🤔

[@gani2an1]

that was definitely a joke 😀

[@bruchett4799]

I still dont get it, the guy said the tire is too old and unflexible but all I saw was a tire being able to bounce perfectly fine. .... ofc using old tires on frequent is not good, but old spare tires are good as long as it is properly inflated. You should not use spare tires for ever, only emergencies. I'd say replace car tires once you see a real degradation of the tire. It is visible on the outerlayer as well as in the sides of the tire.

[@L2SFBC]

no, the degradation is often invisible

[@captainvanaroo1729]

If they are stiff if you start using the tires more frequently again after they been sitting do they loosen up again and become more pliable this some extent.?

[@L2SFBC]

A little but old tyres are still bad.

[@marklittler784]

Funny heating up wheel nuts with a blow lamp to help loosen them doesn't tend to damage wheel paint.

[@americaneagle6486]

I bought a 2020 Honda Accord with 20,000 miles on it. I assume the tires are the original tires because they say they were made in 2020. Do you think they are unsafe and should I change them. Thank you.

[@terrelle5087]

Mines tires 8 years old have em when the car was brand new. Im ride them sucker until the tread depht is 2/32 seconds

[@mikeprice8307]

The tires on my 08 shelby GT500 are from 07'.

[@L2SFBC]

!!!!!!

[@watvid1]

Changes car tyres today... They were 10 years old never changed since car owned. I bought it three months ago. Crazy

[@GK5_]

Not as bad as me, I picked up a set of used wheels for my Honda and am realizing just now the date was the 34th week of 2004. 16.75 years old

[@watvid1]

@@GK5_ oh shit get them changed ASAP lol

[@GK5_]

@@watvid1 yeah I'm working on it lol. I'm looking at some Dunlop Direzza DZ102 but I'm not sure if I should get something else that's snow rated since I live in Canada

[@watvid1]

@@GK5_ no idea, I'm in England, don't mess with winter or summer tyres, I use the same all year round, they do the job :D

[@konradmroczek2496]

@@watvid1 In England, yes. In Canadian weather conditions, You need proper winter tyres.

[@wuffe187]

I'm planning getting a new BF Goodrich AT tyre, but the manufactured date is in 2020. Do you think it's still ok to use it say until end of 2025?

[@L2SFBC]

Yes

[@ahad4046]

Should i buy a tyre with date 07/22 (the owner put them onto his car in November for 2k miles and then saved for another one)

[@L2SFBC]

Datewise, that's fine

[@antoniosmith7010]

When you buy new tires what should the dot be ?

[@L2SFBC]

No more than a year old, maybe 18m. Note that it's manufacture date, so it takes time to ship from maker to distrbutor to retailer, so you can't expect 2 week old tyres.

[@antoniosmith7010]

@@L2SFBC o ok I’m buying a set of vogue tires this week and for as expensive as they are I need to make sure the dot is good $1,800 I dont need old tires

[@MrYurikmd]

“Sell it to someone else” 😂. To someone who didn’t watch such a video

[@marklittler784]

Worth swapping tyres front to back for even wear because your in a better bargaining position when your buying a complete set of tyres.

[@KenanRaptor]

I was about to buy a car today. The salesman told me got fresh tires before mot but the tires are from 2011. I told him those are almost 12 years old winter tires. Then he said “yeah, I didn’t say new. I said good tires” Well they ain’t good eighter my man. I told him I would pay full price if he put some new tires on it but he said I hav other tires about 6 years old. Me: naa thanks I won’t drive a car with rubber that old. It’s my only peace of contact with the road so I just left.

[@L2SFBC]

Wow 12 years old!!!

[@aydingultekin2846]

More than 5 years old is dangerous. On the shelf, on the car, looking new, low mileage, deep grooves doesn't matter. So driving more is actually safer for tires

[@rondhole]

No, no at all. It depends on which tires you have and how you store it. Premium brands has much better built and often still way better than new Chinese tires. There is no single rule or law in the world that we are not allowed to use 15 years or older radial passenger cars tires. Yes, if it is on trailer, or buses, they are indeed has different design and expired on 6-10 years. But not for passenger cars. Old tires separations is more about myth not facts, only special cases when stupid people used old tires on circuit for tracking. If the tires is kept from UV/sun light, ozone, and moisture, they last really long. Just like most rubber components on cars trims which are stored in garage. They are still looks like new even after 30 years.

[@Monster33336]

Not in my experience I saved lots of money on good quality expensive tires. Just inspect and check each part of the rubber for cracking.

[@timcheou5649]

These tires as long as the thread is enough 10 years is fine doesn't matter brand fr new

[@marklittler784]

One problem is flat spots on tyres where the vehicle is left standing in the same position with weight left on the tyre for long periods like on caravans, motorhomes and vehicles kept solely for towing that are left for long periods unmoved.

[@m.f.k515]

Can I use 7 years tyre in car or change

[@L2SFBC]

No. Throw those old tyres away.

[@sganet_]

5 years is the golden rule, it’s even illegal to have 5 year + tires in some countries.

[@L2SFBC]

Which countries?

[@juanmfg4741]

What if you use low psi

[@L2SFBC]

Run the correct pressure. That may be high or low depending on what the situation.

[@mjjoseph8259]

Probably most tires in service are older than the 4-6 years this chap recommended to change them.

[@virkelie2]

Does your advice not to use tyres beyond 4 years of age also apply to bicycles?

[@L2SFBC]

No, I don't know enough to advise but I suspect they have a life too

[@virkelie2]

@@L2SFBC Thanks!

[@jayare6872]

Tyre? or Tire?

[@L2SFBC]

Tiyre

[@geoffmassingham785]

One British, one American.

[@beexiong2171]

Simple just change tires when old tires are showing signs of cracking and low in tread, or feels hard and old tires are still soft to the touch and still good tread it can still be driven on that’s what I do…but u every one be the judge for urself.

[@acideauxrivarda3352]

Paul Walker's Family sued Porsche when in reality they should have sued Walker's business partner who owned the Porsche but never put new tires on it.... Older tires are harder and easier to lose traction which is fun for doing burn-outs but not for trying to grip the road at 90+ miles per hour

[@L2SFBC]

I agree!

[@marklittler784]

Remember to carry an extension bar folks to help you get those tight wheel nuts off.

[@maxtib]

Just bought a car; I thought the tyres were good but they're 22 years old!

[@L2SFBC]

WOW what car is that???

[@maxtib]

@@L2SFBC a Mercedes 190E. The owner before me was an old man who now can't drive anymore. Still, seems odd that they're quite so old!

[@marklittler784]

Worth purchasing a sixth wheel so you spend far less time running around without a spare wheel when you get a puncture.

[@rondhole]

Yes, Newer is better but it really depends on how it was stored. Spare tires often are still in better condition after 10 years than the tires we used after 3 years because of exposure to UV, heat, ozone, etc. There is more accident caused by newer tires but improperly inflated or just bad cheap Chinese tires that have low-quality built. 15 years old Goodyear, Continental, or Michelin tires often are still better than 5 years Chinese tires. This issue is a lack of significant statistical numbers. It is pure marketing. Of course, we should not buy 5 years or older tires but if we already have tires that are 10 years or older, if they are still very good and fine, there is no reason to remove it.

[@noahmeme2]

Mine are from 2008

[@L2SFBC]

Too old then!

[@ISpinUWin]

Funny I just went to track and posted a vid of me driving on tires that were made in 2008. You will see that even with full tread they are unpredictable and have no grip and can start losing pieces if driven hard. So get rid of them!

[@L2SFBC]

@@ISpinUWin thanks, please link your video

[@ISpinUWin]

L2SFBC - Robert Pepper - auto journo Hi sure, I thought if you clicked on my name it would take you to my channel. The direct link to the old tire video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpm2YaR5rqaojNE Thank you - your message is important and could save a life.

[@mamba101]

@@ISpinUWin Just as a small correction, tyre thread doesn't provide grip.

[@nc2827]

Mine on my truck are from 2800 or mid 2000, too old? Lol

[@L2SFBC]

Ummm....put them in a museum 👍😃

[@nc2827]

@@L2SFBC LOL

[@moexus]

omg

[@nc2827]

@@moexus Dont worry I replaced them in August of last year haha

[@sethfischer7368]

So 2013 tires are a ripp off.....great 👍

[@L2SFBC]

Don't buy!!!

[@sethfischer7368]

@@L2SFBC I had to drop 200 on it /: tire had an air bubble big as my head /: gana have to get another one soon I guess ☠️ thank you though much needed info b

[@melvinthemechanic]

I have tires from 1975

[@L2SFBC]

...not fitted to a car I hope!

[@melvinthemechanic]

I think they were used to about 2016

[@mahdavimail]

good brand tires don't age fast 5yrs is minimum.

[@L2SFBC]

No depends on treatment and compound

[@jimcree6869]

Idiot ministers banning tyres over 10 years but pushing 2 year Mots. I MOT 3 to 5 cars a week and a lot of them I do for years on end . The odd one comes along that's totally fcuked when last year it was fine. Baroness bint making our lives that little bit more expensive

[@L2SFBC]

You really think 10 year old tyres are safe?