The tires of a car have a limited lifespan but too few motorists know how to know their age.
Did you know? Like yogurt, car tires have an expiration date. And that you certainly know, the tires are very important for road safety. Loss of grip, decrease in handling, increased braking distance, aquaplaning, increase in the probability of burst … The degradation of tires can have dramatic consequences on the road. But by the way, when should you change the tires of your vehicle? Every 50,000 kilometers depending on the specialists if the wheels are fitted with premium brand tires, such as those of Michelin, Dunlop, Pirelli, Bridgestone or Continental manufacturers. This distance can be reduced by two for a vehicle equipped with inexpensive tires.
For large rollers, 50,000 kilometers can be swallowed in two years. But many motorists do not use their car daily and are mainly satisfied with short journeys. However, the condition of a tire is gradually deteriorating even if it does not drive. Moreover, in the trade, a tire, even stored in optimal conditions, can no longer be sold as new by a manufacturer if more than 5 years. Over time, gum hardens and may easier to crack. Once on a car, the “expiration date” of a tire, even if it is not official, is estimated at 10 years. After this date, and even with low mileage on the clock, it is strongly advised to change it.
Problem for many motorists: how to know the age of a tire? However, it’s like Port-Salut, it’s written on it! Few people know it, but the date of manufacture of a tire is written on one of its sides. Most of the time, it follows the inscription “DOT” (Department of Transport in English) and its alphanumeric suite. To discover the “date of birth” of the tire, you have to look at the last four figures. The first two indicate the number of manufacturing week, the last two its manufacturing year. For example, if the last four figures of the suite following the registration “DOT” are 3218, then the tire will have been designed the 32nd week of 2018. This is the benchmark that must be followed to know the precise age of a tire. The one quoted as an example would therefore reach its “expiration date” towards the end of the summer of 2028.
The average price of a premium brand tire intended for a city car is today around 75 euros, it takes 120 euros for the tire of a SUV, the size of the wheels is larger. When replacing the tires in a car -by two or four because it is highly recommended to change the two of the same axle at the same time -it is better to plan a small budget. But it is the safety of the occupants of the car, not to mention that in the event of control by the police, driving with too smooth tires is liable to a fine of 135 euros. It’s more expensive than the price of a new tire …