Tire expiration dates - they DO exist!!!

IanRTL · May 15, 2012

I know this should probably go in the Tires and Wheels section, but I wanted to make sure this got posted in a section with the most traffic.

I work for a very large Oil, Gas and Energy company which is extremely safety conscious. Before every large meeting, we have a safety moment. One of them last week was on the expiration dates of tires. Yes, that's right, they do exist and you should check your tires before you buy them! Take a look at the video from ABC news:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

This was posted about 2.5 years ago on here, but it didn't get a lot of looks. I think this is information that EVERY driver of EVERY vehicle needs to know. I went out and checked the tires on my truck, my wife's car and eventually looked at the tires on all of my family and friends' vehicles. Luckily, none of them were expired and all were in good condition. This is STILL happening and it's a shame that there is no law regarding the sale of expired tires. Remember - look for the four digit code within an oval on the sidewall of the tire. The first two number signify the week of the year the tire was produced and the last two are the year. For instance, all four of my tires say "5209" so they were all made in the 52nd week of 2009. If you have tires that are close to or more than 6 years old, REPLACE THEM! It could save your life and the lives of your family, friends and other people on the road...

kevin_stevens · May 15, 2012

Tires have no expiration date. In fact, the hyperactive news video you link to actually says that, in between showing unrelated scenes of treads falling off and vehicles exploding in fiery crashes like a Speed Racer intro.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB111749893211146635.html

6 years is a Euro recommendation which some US car manufacturers have adopted, 10 years is DOT, neither is written in stone anywhere. Your message is rather... alarmist - and your title is incorrect.

KeS

"Tires are not milk."

IanRTL · May 15, 2012

True, there is no law regarding actual expiration dates of tires. However, there seems to be a substantial amount of evidence showing that tires eventually become unsafe after a certain period of time. Of course a representative of the tire industry is going to say something like there is no evidence that tires expire or that there is no danger. If there WAS a six-year expiration date, it would cost the tire companies a fortune to pull all of its old tires off of shelves and replace them with new ones. So, whereas six years is a recommendation, it is one that I am choosing to follow. Take the information and do with it what you will. I was simply trying to get it out there so others here may make their own decisions about the issue.

Sparkland · May 15, 2012

I do not think looking at the "born" date of tires is alarmist! It sounds prudent to me.

kevin_stevens · May 15, 2012

Announcing a hard expiration date that isn't supported as more than a recommendation by any standards body OR manufacturer, and then telling people to replace their tires if they are "getting close" to that date, does sound alarmist.

Posting a video that shows tires shredding and cars veering off the road in tests *unrelated* to tire aging sounds alarmist. Picking a worst-possible case of multiple people dying and ending in comas from a blowout sounds alarmist.

Posting in the wrong forum deliberately because ZOMG THIS IS IMPORTANT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO CHECK THIS RIGHT NOW sounds alarmist. Especially when it's a repost because ZOMG I DIDN'T GET ENOUGH CLICKS LAST TIME.

Tire manufacture dates have been around for *decades* to provide exactly this kind of information. Everybody involved in ANY of the referenced links says nothing more committal than "yeah, tires eventually degrade and fail". In the real world this is more of a concern for your emergency spare than your regular tires.

KeS

kevin_stevens · May 15, 2012

Take the information and do with it what you will. I was simply trying to get it out there so others here may make their own decisions about the issue.

Well, posting alarmist and factually incorrect information in the wrong forum is, IMHO, the wrong way to do it.

:thumbsdown

KeS

ridge_rider · May 15, 2012

There is really nothing to suggest that at the hypothetical "6 years" your tires must be replaced even if they have lots of tread remaining. Where your car is stored probably has a lot to do with the lifespan as well. A car kept outside where it is exposed to the elements and UV is more at risk than a car kept inside. With that being said, I wouldn't keep tires on my car if they were older than 8-10 years old. What is most concerning is going out and paying for "new" tires when they are already 2 or 3 years old. Knowing the date of your tires is definitely something you shouldn't overlook.

speedlever · May 15, 2012

Checked my new tires on the RL and 3 are dated 4211 and one is 5111.

NVWoody · May 15, 2012

I think it's a good idea to know where to find the production date of tires, especially when buying a new set. Granted tires wear differently for different people and driving styles, but it's still good to know how old your tires are since you can only see the outside of the tires and not how the inside plys are holding up. It may or may not be a problem, I don't know, but if my tires are 6 to 10 years old, I probably wouldn't feel as safe driving at 70 mph or faster. Using tire cleaners or something like ArmorAll make the outside of the tires look new, but not between the tread. A lot of people kick the tires to see if they are good, but that doesn't say how old they are.
I think Ian's post is good information and didn't think it alarming or alarmist in it's presentation.

speedlever · May 15, 2012

I thought it was good info too, and recognize that ABC is likely out to sensationalize any news story they grab hold of. Regardless, it still taught me something I didn't know.

IanRTL · May 15, 2012

I can certainly see that. I have a broadcasting degree and worked with a few news stations and newspapers in the past. Sensationalistic news reporting captures attention and creates a stir, which usually ends up in more people watching/reading. That's basically what this story did for me, but behind that sensationalism in this story is very real and meaningful information. Could you drive on 6, 8 or 10+ year old tires with no issues? There's a good chance. With the evidence seen in some of the studies that can be found online, the issue does seem to not be widespread. BUT, you have to ask yourself, do you really want to take the chance that your safety, as well as the safety of your family, friends and other people on the road, may be compromised? Tires can blow out when they're brand new or when they're 15 years old - doesn't matter. However, with all of the evidence pointing to degradation of material strength after 6+ years or so, I will be making sure all tires on all my vehicles from here on are really new when I buy them. I hope all of you take this information and make the decision about your tires that is best for you and your loved ones.

laserguy · May 15, 2012

Don't forget the tire pressure and extreme heat conditions.

I would be willing to bet that most of the failures took place with 3 factors,

1. Bad batch model or tire manufacturer
2. Happened with low pressure exceeding vibration during extreme heat conditions
3. over loaded vehicle exceeding the weight the tires can handle and driving at unsafe speeds for the tires speed recommendation.

IanRTL · May 15, 2012

Completely agree. Proper maintenance is key with tires. They're the only thing on your vehicle that actually touches the road and should be treated with the highest priority when it comes to safety and maintenance. In some situations such as the bad batch or sub-par manufacturing, there's not much you can do about it, though.

feetdry · May 15, 2012

My source of failures in the past few years has been debris on I-5. I've had 3 tyres destroyed with "stuff" on the roadway.

Ourfarm09 · May 16, 2012

That date on the tires is also used for retread and recapping purposes. Here in Georgia a 5 year old tire cannot be recapped or retreaded.

laserguy · May 16, 2012

Retreaded tires are the cause of most of similar failures too. It must be scary to have seconds to avoid a crash, at least when you get a flat you feel it and have a lot of time to slow down and stop.

zepada · May 16, 2012

IanRTL has a good point. I experienced this just last week when checking my son's spare on his 01 CRV. The spare was flat and the leak was in the valve stem. I went to 3 different tire shops and none of them would touch the tire due to age. I explained to each the spare has never been on the road but still, each stated the tire was over 6 years old and they would not touch the valve stem/tire due to age. Each stated rupture as a liability issue upon inflation. As a youngster, I had a friend who was inflating an older spare that ruptured and took his left eye in the process. I ended up replacing the spare.

Since I keep Hondas for up to 10 years, makes me think I should consider changing spare at the 6-7 year point.

kevin_stevens · May 16, 2012

Yeah, except that was me who specifically said that you should check the age of your spare, not Ian. :act030: People don't change their spares, especially those emergency spares, while they go through tire sets every few years.

In the real world this is more of a concern for your emergency spare than your regular tires.

KeS

speedlever · May 16, 2012

Those pictures of tire casings on the road made me think of retreads being thrown off, not new tires coming apart.

kevin_stevens · May 16, 2012

speedlever said:
Those pictures of tire casings on the road made me thing of retreads being thrown off, not new tires coming apart.

@ :40 sec. :act024:

http://youtu.be/auszi9bUr3o

KeS

COOPER_ABQ · May 17, 2012

So I guess I'm in the minority, I have a full size spare, and that when I do my tire rotations, I have them rotate ALL 5 tires, I paid for it, might as well get some good use out of it!

feetdry · May 17, 2012

'Wish I could do that too. Alas, my winter tyres are a lot different than my summer tyres.....and the wheels are different too. 'Guess I need 2 full size spares to put into the rotation. On second thought, forget it, it's too complicated.

speedlever · May 17, 2012

Seems a smart way to maximize your investment in tires. Since I just have the compact spare, I'm not troubled by the extra effort to put 5 tires in rotation.

COOPER_ABQ · May 20, 2012

I learned about this when I had my Chevy Suburban 2500 4x4, its called a "rearward" cross, primarily used for AWD and 4WD vehicles.

The spare goes to the RR
the RR goes to the RF
the RF goes to the LR
LR goes to the LF
and the LF goes to the spare position.

Going on 2.5 years and 4 rotations later, never an issue with vibration, pulling, out of balance, uneven wear, or TPMS sensors.

JadedSoulX · May 20, 2012

Thanks for this :act035::act035::act035:.

laserguy · May 21, 2012

5 tire rotation! That is a lot of work, and I would assume they need to be rotated more often for even wear. Meaning more work.

COOPER_ABQ · May 21, 2012

I would have to agree Ourfarm, but I only found out about it in early 94 when I had bought the suburban.

Laser, its just one more tire, besides its not that much work for me, when DT does it because I have the lifetime rotate and balance.:act035:

IanRTL · May 21, 2012

Now, THAT is where the LR&B would certainly pay for itself. The 5-tire rotation is pretty interesting to me. I would think you'd need to do it every 5000 miles or so to keep the tread depths on all five tires within 1/32nd of each other. In any case, it does make sense even though you need to rotate more.

Just out of curiosity, do you re-torque your lug nuts after you get your truck back from the tires being rotated? The shop I use just uses impact guns to put the lugs back on. Some are super tight and others, not so much. I always make sure to retorque to 94 ft/lbs right after I get it back.

feetdry · May 21, 2012

I must live in a different world. The chain where I buy my tires rotates and balances them for free and have since I've been buying tires from them for the last 30 plus years. They also are religious about torquing them after snugging with the air gun. For all those years I've been rotating every 5000 miles.

IanRTL · May 21, 2012

I bought my tires from a local guy my dad has been using for years. I get my tires rotated for free, too. However, I bought my wife's tires through DTD and had them mounted and balanced at a place close to my office. In this case, I don't have any free rotation and balance. They typically offer free rotation coupons, though.

As far as torquing the lugs, I just simply don't trust anyone but myself to do the torque. I always check them all the second I get home from the rotation or from any other service where one or all of the wheels need to come off. They usually aren't way off from where they need to be, but they aren't all of equal torque. Over time, this causes warped rotors and uneven tire wear (to a point). So, I just make sure to check it no matter what.

Ourfarm09 · May 21, 2012

<<<< do my own rotations.

RustyH · May 21, 2012

Here in AZ, you bet your A$$ tires have an expiration date. Anyone driving on tires five years or older is asking for trouble. The summer heat will wreck your tires, hoses, belts anything rubber. My wife's Michilen tires on her Civic SI Hatch look to be in great shape from a few feet away, but a very close inspection shows a lot of tiny mico cracks in the sidewalls and in the tread. The tires are just coming up on five years old and we're in the market for a new set of tires. I've still got a ton of tread left on all four tires, but I'm not going to let my wife drive around on a set of ticking time bombs.

kevin_stevens · May 21, 2012

Really? What is that date? Where is it found, or how calculated? Or are you just saying that tires eventually wear out and should be examined for condition? Because, gotta tell ya - your five year date conflicts with Ian's six year date, and you both have the power of positive assertion behind you.

More people making **** up and trying to justify their opinions as canon. Very bad idea when dealing with safety issues.

Nobody disagrees that tires deteriorate from conditions, and need to be inspected regularly. It's already a known issue for Ridgelines with the OEM Michelins.

KeS

Ourfarm09 · May 22, 2012

Here is a few good reads.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.htm

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/car-part-longevity/tire-sell-by-date1.htm

Maybe one day they will have an expiration date, who knows.

kevin_stevens · May 22, 2012

Yup. Hopefully it'll be based on more than a single 20/20 episode featuring a liability attorney saying "may" and "could" a lot.

But I'm not holding my breath.

KeS

COOPER_ABQ · May 22, 2012

IanRTL, yes after a rotate and balance, impact gun, and DTD torquing, I roll home, (literally 3 blocks) and re-check the torque, I learned a along time ago to CY@ss:act027:

feetdry · May 22, 2012

Gosh, you guys make me think I need to carry a torque wrench with me. I do oil changes and tire rotations many, many miles from home. Oh, well more tools in the RL but after 30 years of being several states away from home it's hard to carry everything with you in case of screw ups.

'Guess I'll keep trusting them to do the right thing. It's just too hard to check everything on the road yourself. I find myself trusting these people and what they do. It is why I don't trust the RL at other tire chains.

COOPER_ABQ · May 23, 2012

Feetdry, (btw, thank you for your government service) not saying the people at DT dont do a good job, in fact they do a great job, especially when it is a 5 tire rotation, and how they are amazed every time at where the spare tire comes from!!!:act018: They have earned my trust and my business repeatedly for both of our vehicles.

I think it is peace of mind, or force of habit, that makes me go behind them and check again.

Kes and Ian, you've both made valid points, and have shown us all some great informative material, for US to form our OWN opinions for the safety of our families, ourselves, and others.

However, this >> :act051: << between you two, needs to STOP!!!

IanRTL · May 23, 2012

COOPER_ABQ said:
Kes and Ian, you've both made valid points, and have shown us all some great informative material, for US to form our OWN opinions for the safety of our families, ourselves, and others.

However, this >> :act051: << between you two, needs to STOP!!!

I agree. One of my downfalls is I'm typically not one to back down. My original intention was to just get this information out there to people who may not have known about it. They can take it for what it's worth and use it however they see fit. As of this whole feud with Kevin, I'm washing my hands of it. He feels how he feels and I feel how I feel. It is what it is. I'm not going to argue or be confrontational anymore.

Kevin, I apologize for the unfortunate head-butting we've had in this thread. Let's just agree to disagree and carry on...

Tire expiration dates - they DO exist!!!

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