Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While theres 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. Buying used tires is a risky move.

Are 5 year old tyres OK?

Tyres are considered to be “new” and fit for retail up to 5 years from the date of production. When in use, it is recommended that tyres are replaced when they reach 7 - 10 years old, (6 years in the case of caravans or trailers).

How many years does a tire expire?

The British Tire Manufacturers Association highly suggest to change tires if its beyond 10 years old. The US NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) says 6 years.

Are 3 year old tires too old?

Three-year-old new tires are perfectly safe, but that doesnt mean you should be buying them. Thats because if you purchase a three-year-old tire, youll need to replace it in three years, even if it still has plenty of life left on the treads.

How do I check my tyre expiry date?

Every tyre has an imprinted alphanumeric DOT code where the last four numbers on one side of the sidewall represent its manufacturing year. The first two digits of the four numbers denote the week of manufacturing while the latter two represent the year.

How old can a tire be before it is unsafe?

It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.

Should I replace 6 year old tires?

There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.

Are 10 year old tyres an MOT failure?

Tyres that are aged 10 years and older will become a failure item at annual test. If these tyres do not display a date code, they will also fail. As part of the annual test, our Vehicle Standards Assessors (VSAs) will check that each tyre displays a date of manufacture or re-treading.

Do tyres expire?

Vehicle tyres are often given a 4-year validity period from their Date of Manufacture (DOM). Check all your tyres for safety purposes. Do not use expired tyres. They are likely to burst (especially when running in hot weather) because the rubber component may have hardened and cracked.

Do tires get harder with age?

When tires get old, the rubber loses is elasticity (gets hard) and then when the tire heats up, the tread tends to blow right off. Also, it doesnt matter whether or not the tire has been exposed to the elements, the rubber still gets hard over time.

Is a 6 year old tire safe?

Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While theres 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. The older a tire gets, the higher the risk of sudden and unexpected tread separation.

Are old tyres an MOT failure?

Tyres with tread depth lower than 1.6mm is illegal and will result in an MOT fail. Simply place the coin in the tread grooves in three different places on the tyre. If any part of the outer band of the coin is visible, your tyre tread is too low and your tyres need to be replaced.

Are old tyres illegal?

There is no legal limit to the age of tyres that can be used on cars, but new legislation will mean tyres over 10 years old will be banned from the being fitted to the front steering axles of goods vehicles more than 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches and minibuses unless the axle had twin tyres.

How do you know when tyres need replacing?

Obvious signs your tyres need replacingTheres not enough tread depth. Your tyres are 10 years old. Youre experiencing a shaky drive. Youre hearing squeaks, whines and other strange noises. You can see cracks. Youve noticed bulges and blisters. Theres a hole in the tread.Oct 4, 2019

Should 6 year old tires be replaced?

There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.

How often should you replace your tires?

every six years The NHTSA recommends that tires be replaced every six years regardless of the number of miles driven. Proper inflation is the Holy Grail of tire maintenance. Too much or too little air in your tires is guaranteed to cause you trouble and uneven or excessive wear over time.