For years, people have
relied on a tire's tread depth to determine its condition. But the rubber
compounds in a tire deteriorate with time, regardless of the condition of the
tread. An old tire poses a safety hazard.
In determining the age of
the tires on your vehicle, you must first look at the sidewall of a tire. Look for the DOT XXXX-XXX-XXXX which is the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
number that in code tells you the manufacturer plant code, size,
brand, week and year the tire was made.
For determining the age of
a tire look at the last digits of the DOT. The first two numbers represent the
week in which the tire was made. The second two represent the year. A tire with
a DOT code of 0812 was made in the 8th week of 2012.
After
checking out a tire's birth date, give the rubber a visual inspection. Check
tires regularly for any sign of aging, such as tread distortion or large or
small hairline cracks in the sidewall. Vibrations or a change in the dynamic
properties of the tire could also be an indicator of aging problems, and the
tire should be replaced immediately.
It's too bad that tires don't have a "sell by" date, like cartons of milk. Since there's no consensus from government or industry sources, lets just say that if your tire has plenty of tread left but is nearing the five-year mark, it's time to think about retiring your tires.
It's too bad that tires don't have a "sell by" date, like cartons of milk. Since there's no consensus from government or industry sources, lets just say that if your tire has plenty of tread left but is nearing the five-year mark, it's time to think about retiring your tires.
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