PSA: Old tires.
After doing a little bit of internet research on the truck's tires that failed last weekend, I found out that they were manufactured in August of 1997. And that due to the way rubber ages, tires over six years old are considered past their prime, no matter how much tread they have.
Here's how to check how old your tires are. Every tire has a DOT code stamped into the side of the tire:
The first few bits are manufacturer info, but what you want is the last three or hopefully four digits - this is the date the tires were manufactured. These digits will either be in a little box, circled, or somehow look different from the rest. On the tire pictured (the one that caused the accident), the code shows the tire was made in the 32nd week of 1997. If your tires were made after 2000, there will be four digits, say "4205", referring to the 42nd week of 2005.
Next time you're checking the air pressure on your tires (you DO check this, don't you?), have a peek at that date code. If your tires are older than six years old, consider getting them replaced soon. Especially if you drive a larger or heavier vehicle like an SUV.
Also note that just because your vehicle is new, the tires might not be. My short bit of research turned up a few reports of brand new cars sold with tires that turned out to be significantly older than the car.
Here's how to check how old your tires are. Every tire has a DOT code stamped into the side of the tire:
The first few bits are manufacturer info, but what you want is the last three or hopefully four digits - this is the date the tires were manufactured. These digits will either be in a little box, circled, or somehow look different from the rest. On the tire pictured (the one that caused the accident), the code shows the tire was made in the 32nd week of 1997. If your tires were made after 2000, there will be four digits, say "4205", referring to the 42nd week of 2005.Next time you're checking the air pressure on your tires (you DO check this, don't you?), have a peek at that date code. If your tires are older than six years old, consider getting them replaced soon. Especially if you drive a larger or heavier vehicle like an SUV.
Also note that just because your vehicle is new, the tires might not be. My short bit of research turned up a few reports of brand new cars sold with tires that turned out to be significantly older than the car.
Labels: PSA
posted by steve at 12:06 AM
2 Comments:
One of the best pieces of advice ever . . . I never knew this. Thank you!
I once had a front tire (Michelin MXX3) fail on my E36 M3. The fronts would not wear out but I replaced the rears every two years. Finally they dry rotted and one failed at about 90 mph on the highway. This is much less dramatic in a sports car than it is in an SUV. I just pulled over and changed it (there was no tire left by the time I got to the side of the road).
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