Most auto manufacturers recommend replacing tires over six years old regardless of tread depth. Some tire manufacturers like Michelin and Continental give a 10-year limit. As rubber compounds age, they deteriorate and become weaker like other rubber and plastic components on your car.
Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there's no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. Old tires have been the culprit in fatal accidents.
/General information /Tire care and maintenance /Tire Safety /How Long Do Tires Last if Not Used? If not used, tires last for 6-10 years, depending on the storage and environmental conditions. Overall, the time limits for stored tires are much the same as for tires that are being used.
All tires (including spare tires) more than ten years old should be removed from service and replaced with new tires. Verify the physical age of any car tire by examining the markings on the tire sidewall following the “DOT” symbol.
Any tire over ten years old is too weak to ensure safe driving. At this age, it's imperative that you replace your tires. For your safety, we will not service any tires aged 10 years or older.
How many miles should tyres last? Your front tyres should last for around 20,000 miles before being changed and your rear tyres may last longer than this. For example, this means that they should be changed every four years if you average 5,000 miles per year.
Tyres will generally last an average of 40,000km, although this can vary widely depending on quality of road surfaces and your driving style. They should be checked annually once they reach the 5-year mark, and should be replaced every 10 years at the very least.
As tyres age, they begin to crack in their sidewalls. This happens when UV light oxidises the rubber, causing it to dry out. Although tyres contain anti-oxidising chemicals to slow this process down, these only work when the tyres are moving.
Tyres removed from vehicles and re-sold with minimal tread wear are not immediately unsafe. However, there could be serious risks if there is an underlying issue with a second-hand tyre someone has bought. If you buy part-worn tyres, you should expect that they have been properly inspected and tested before sale.
There is no definitive tyre age limit as to when you should replace your tyres but once your tyres reach 7-10 years old, you should keep a close eye on their condition and consider replacing them.
Leaving a car unused for a long period could leave it vulnerable to problems with your battery, brakes, and tires. Tires will be prone to deteriorate, lose air pressure, and develop flat spots.
“Unless specified, you should get a new spare tire at 10 years to ensure it is safe to use,” says Ryan Pszczolkowski, CR's tire program manager. “You should inspect your spare tire periodically to look for any cracking or dry rot.” This task can be done when you're checking the tire pressure.
Every tire has a birth date—the day it was manufactured—and an expiration date that is six years from that manufacture date. Most automobile manufacturers warn drivers to replace vehicle tires after six years. To wait any longer than that is a gamble with tire integrity and is risky for drivers.
The most common reason for tyre wear on the edges is underinflation. If you've noticed wear on the inside, check the outside of the tyre too. Underinflated tyres tend to distort the tread away from the road in the centre, which results in the edges becoming worn.
Changing tyres in pairs
But should tyres be replaced in pairs? The answer is ideally, yes. Replacing just the one tyre without changing the tyre on the opposite side of the axle at the same time may cause an imbalance to the vehicle – potentially leading to wheel misalignment and excessive tyre wear.
But 12-year-old tires would exceed all age limits in the world of rubber radials. Most tiremakers say tires should be inspected after six years and replaced after 10, and several automakers recommend replacing tires after six years of use.
It's a good idea to get them checked annually once they are over five years old. Manufacturers cannot make any guarantees on longevity as factors like the climate, air pressure and your driving habits all make a difference. Tyres should be replaced every 10 years at the very least.
Slow Tire Dry Rot With Spare Tire Bags
Even if you can't get a hold of vacuum-sealed bags, storing spare tires in large, thick plastic bags, taped up with duct tape, can help reduce the rate of deterioration, including tire dry rot and tire flat spots.
You should always have a spare tire in your vehicle because you never know when you'll get a flat or puncture and be on the side of the road stranded. A spare tire and wheel provide you with a direct replacement, allowing you to become mobile again until you get a tire repair service.
The History of the Science. In 1989, ADAC, Germany's consumer advocacy group concluded: “Even tires that are just six years old – though they appear to be brand new – can present a safety risk. Tire experts even say that if they are not used, indeed, tires age more quickly.”
In arid climates, tire dry rot can set in after as little as five years. Meanwhile, more humid environments tend to slow down the dry rot process, because they aren't as conducive to the splintering and cracking tire dry rot causes.
Once tires hit that age, the rubber compound begins to harden, and the rubber is more likely to crack. It also doesn't grip the road surface the way it did when it was new.
Resins in the tire compound are designed to protect the rubber, but only if it's actively engaged and in motion. The longer a vehicle sits unused, the more likely dry rot will develop. This is especially true if the tires are outside and exposed to fluctuating temperatures and direct sunlight.
Tire rot is caused by ambient heat, UV radiation (which has a similar effect on your face), ozone in the atmosphere, road salt and time. These factors are mostly worse if your car lives outside, but even garage queens can't sit on one set of tires forever.