Do tires go bad with age?

Older tires are substantially more likely to fail than newer ones. This is because tires are made mostly of rubber, and rubber degrades with age. Sunlight, heat, ice, and general wear and tear can accelerate the breakdown of a tire. For most tires, this expiration date should be six years from the date of manufacture.

What happens when tires age?

As a tire ages, small cracks in the rubber begin to develop over time, appearing on the surface and inside the tire. This cracking can eventually cause the steel belts in the tread to separate from the rest of the tire. Tread separation can also happen to defective, underinflated and poorly maintained tires.

Is it OK to buy older tires?

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. The older a tire gets, the higher the risk of sudden and unexpected tread separation.

Should 5 year old tires be replaced?

We recommend replacing tires aged 6-10 years, no matter how much tread remains. When it comes to replacing tires, things can be a little unpredictable. Mileage, condition and routine maintenance all contribute to the tire’s safety and usability. You should replace them if you think they may have compromised integrity.

Should 9 year old tires be replaced?

What are the disadvantages of buying used tires?

Disadvantages 1 Previous wear. Obviously used tires are going to come with previous wear. 2 Difficult purchasing conditions. Especially if you’re buying used tires online, it’s hard to make a good judgment on the condition of the tires. 3 Unknown history. 4 Harsh weather conditions. 5 You don’t know how long they’ll last.

How much do tires degrade over time?

How much tires degrade over time depends a lot on their original intended use and how they are stored. Tires intended for racing—extremely soft and sticky rubber—will degrade far more quickly than tires intended for general use, and high-performance road tires will degrade more quickly than lower-performance tires.

Are old tires a problem when driving?

For some people, old tires might never be an issue. If you drive a typical number of miles, somewhere around 12,000-15,000 miles annually, a tire’s tread will wear out in three to four years, long before the rubber compound does. But if you drive much less than that, or have a car that you only drive on weekends, aging tires could be an issue.

Why do tires fail so easily?

Any tire is worked/run hard may have lots of tread left but it is more likely to fail than one that has not been road hard and put away. Abuse also comes from things like potholes, curbs and sidewall bruises, all of which usually do not leave any marks. There’s a lot more to it than time.