Check the age of your tires

[Amuthini]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

anything over 6 years should be replaced, no matter how much tread is left, it could save your life.

[g_b_ya]

Thank You!

[f00kie]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

anything over 6 years should be replaced, no matter how much tread is left, it could save your life.

Very interesting stuff.

[ElvaSoShexai]

i always knew u shouldn't use tires over 6yrs but i nvr knew how to check. interesting stuff!

but i wonder what kinds of brands/models some of those really old tires that are still selling are.. i would think that most popular brand/model of tires would sell out pretty fast... unless u hv a really weird size

[hytong]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11

[Justin]

I dont think Canada marks tires in the same way. I checked 4 vehicles and none had a date. I did not check the side facing in but atleast 1 of the 4 should have had the date if canada date marks tires in the same way.

[eastwood]

I've heard of this, but never thought to check.

Mine were made in early 2007 and bought in summer 2007. Neat.

[Jucius Maximus]

Even your spare tire should be replaced after 6 yrs!

What doesn't make sense to me is why the tire manufacturers do not provide a clearly marked expiry date on the tires. This would probably lead to MORE sales because people would be more inclined to replace their tires.

[Anonymouse]

I think it's heat that kills tires; 6 year rules of thumb that hold in Arizona don't necessarily hold in Canada.

[Jucius Maximus]

As a result of this thread, I went down to the garage to look at date codes.

Does the code 508 mean "50th week of 1998" or "5th week of 2008" ?

Edit: Answer found - for tires made before 2000, they use only 1 digit for the year. So a "508" tire was made in 1998!

[new_vr]

Mine don't last even close to 6 years

[pitz]

If you watched the show carefully, they say that tyres should not be *sold* after 6 years on the shelf. They're not saying that a 6-year-old tyre is prone to failure.

If you buy a 6-year-old tyre, get it installed, and leave it on the vehicle for 10 years, then, obviously, you are at much higher risk for tire failure 10 years after purchase than someone who buys a 1-year-old tyre, and leaves it on the vehicle for 10 years.

And of course, another poster is absolutely right -- such 'guidelines' are more heavily geared towards tyres that are used in the hottest climates and the most marginal tyre designs. The stress on the rubber of a low-profile 18" tyre for a Honda Civic is obviously much higher than the stress of 15" tyre fitted to your grandpa's Buick.

[blahs]

lol mine were 9 and I just got new ones.

[eastwood]

I dont think Canada marks tires in the same way. I checked 4 vehicles and none had a date. I did not check the side facing in but atleast 1 of the 4 should have had the date if canada date marks tires in the same way.

Seems to. I'm in Canada and mine are marked. Both my summers and winters have the dates on the outside of the tire.

Checked my summers last night. All good. And just looked at my winters....bought in autumn 2003 and made in spring 2003.

[BeaverLiquor]

I dont think Canada marks tires in the same way. I checked 4 vehicles and none had a date. I did not check the side facing in but atleast 1 of the 4 should have had the date if canada date marks tires in the same way.

yes they do, all tires have a serial (d.o.t.) number on them.