Were you aware of the fact that tires that were manufactures many years ago can be dangerous even if they are brand new and have never been used?

Now it’s easier than ever to tell when a tire was made by looking at a series of digits that is imprinted on every single tire.

Many people do not even know that aging tires can pose a danger. Tires degrade with age and dry out and as a result are hazardous on the road. Aged tires can lead to spin outs and blow-outs on the road and may cause a driver to lose control on the road. Tires older than six years are supposed to be disposed of even if they are in brand new condition and never used. Older tires may have degraded internally due to being exposed to the elements such as oxygen and heat.

It is alarming to note that a couple of major stores in the Unites States have been caught selling aged tires to consumers. Some U.S tire manufacturers have claimed that age is a not a prominent issue when it comes to tire safety, however, however other tire manufacturers such as Bridgestone and Firestone have stated that tires should not be used nor sold at all if they are over 10 years old.

Tires produced after 2000 show the year the tire was manufactured by a four digit code. You can tell when a tire was manufactured by looking at the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number, which can be seen on every tire. This number starts with the letters “DOT”. The first two numbers signals the week and the last two numbers indicate the year that the tire was manufactured. As for tires manufactured before the year 2000, the date can be seen visible in the last three numbers. The first two numbers show the week and the last number shows the year. For example, the number 109 means that the tire was produced in the 10th week of 1999.

The “dry rotting” of tires is another issue to keep in mind. In order to determine if your tires have dry rotted, look carefully for cracks and discoloration. Remember to always check each and every tire because even if you’re purchasing 4 tires at one time, it’s still possible that the tires were produced during different times. Check the date on spare tires as well, as many cars have spares in the trunk that are quite old. Tires on recreational vehicles and RV’s need to be checked as well, as the tires on these vehicles tend to be older since they are not used as much.

Properly maintained tires play a crucial role in keeping you safe on the road. Tire failure at fast speeds can lead to dangerous accidents and even deaths. Recently some auto manufacturers have made steps in the right direction by mentioning the dangers of tire aging in their driver’s manual plus it’s been a subject on a few popular news television shows. Hopefully this will bring some awareness to the public and help to inform consumers that tire age is an extremely important part of keeping drivers safe on the road.

Author Bio: Written by Jacqueline Star: Used Cars Dallas, Used Car Dealer Coachella, Virginia Beach Used Cars

Category: Automotive
Keywords: tire safety, old tires, aged tires, safe tires, how to tell how old your tires are