We all know how old the car is. We know how old the boat is. We also know how old the utility trailer is. We know that the older they get the more likely that they will start breaking down based on their age. Do you know how old your tires are? Most people, including myself do not know how old our tires are and we think as long as there is sufficient tread then the tire must be good and safe. After representing a car accident victim in a tire blow out case where the occupants were injured and doing a tremendous amount of research and taking depositions which included a corporate representative of a major tire manufacturer I have found that the amount of tread remaining on a tire is not indicative that the tire is good and safe.
I have found that one of the most dangerous issues of a vehicle facing drivers is the age of their tires. Yes, tires age like everything else. Where it is often overlooked is when we replace the tires on the vehicle after many years but we do not replace the spare because it still has all the tread and we think it must still be good. While the tread looks good you should remember that it is just as old as the tires you replaced.
Tires are mostly made of rubber which deteriorate with age even if they are not being used. This would include a spare tire that looks new or a tire on a boat or utility trailer that you have had for many years but the tread looks great. The components of a tire can dry out over time, the rubber can deteriorate and the adhesion between the belts can break down. This is especially true in the southern states do to the heat and humidity the tire is exposed to. The breakdown of the tire could occur while driving at highway speeds which could cause a major accident resulting in serious injuries or even death.
You can tell the age of your own tire by looking at the last 3 or 4 numbers of the DOT identification numbers on the side of your tires. The first two numbers are the week the tire was made and the last two numbers (or just the last number for those tires made since 1999 or earlier) show the year the tire was manufactured. Several manufacturers believe that you should discard tires that are 6 years and older even if they have never been used. You should not only check your current tires on your car but also your spare. You should check your trailer tires and even tires that you buy brand new to make sure you are not buying a tire that is aged which in turn could be a serious accident waiting to happen.
