Tire Aging and Decoding The Age of Your Tire
Old tires have been the subject of growing concern by auto safety advocates. Extensive research has proven that physical and chemical properties of tires change over time, causing them to degrade after six years – even if tires haven’t been used. The average consumer is well aware of how to inspect tire tread depth, but has no idea that, regardless of tread, old tires can become brittle and separate on the road. The industry is well aware of the issue and the dangers but is reluctant to put uniform guidelines in place.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA) has conducted tests on new tires to determine a baseline for their durability and may pursue a test this year to simulate aging. The agency will begin requiring manufacturers to print the manufacture date on tires, beginning in September 2009. The 2003 NHTSA study determined that the average tread life of a tire is 44,700 miles. The problem lies in that, sometimes, cars are rarely used, leaving aged tires on a low-mileage car. Or, a consumer may put a spare tire on the car only to have the tread separate after a short period of use.
According to SRS, Inc. a Massachusetts-based auto-safety research firm, 108 accidents and 85 deaths are linked to tread separation of tires more than six years old. The group cites in a recent petition a July 2003 crash involving a 1997 Toyota 4Runner in San Bernardino, California. Three weeks after a dealer rotated an original spare tire onto the right rear wheel, the tread separated at highway speed fatally injuring a young mother in a rollover accident.
If you or someone close to you has been involved in a tire-related accident, call the Didier Law Firm to find out if a tire defect claim exists.
How To Decode The Age of Your Tire
- The DOT serial number is on a tire's sidewall near the wheel rim.
- For tires manufactured in 2000 and after, the first two numbers identify the week (from 01 to 52) and the last two numbers identify the year.
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For tires made in 1999 and before, there are three numbers. The first two numbers indicate the week, the last number indicates the year, for example, the code 105 would indicate the tire was made in March 1995.
Source: Detroit News research