Year 2008, an owner of 1998 Ford Explorer in Georgia needed to replace his old tires and ended up buying a used one. When he was driving two weeks later, the tread suddenly separated from the tire. The Explorer went out of control and hit a motorcycle, killing the rider. After an analysis of the used tire, it revealed that it was nearly 10 years old.
The story is a classic example of how potential is buying and using of used tire is. Old tires might be a not-so-big issue when it comes safety but you don’t want to take a risk of having your tires detach from your lovely treads.
Typically, you drive for about 12,000-15,000 miles yearly – normally a tire could last for 3 to 4 years. But, if you only drive 6,000 miles annually, or simply say that you have a car that you only drive on weekends, your tires are prone to aging.
Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., compared an aging tire to an old rubber band noting that as you take a rubber band that’s been sitting around a long time and have it stretched, you’ll be able to see cracks in the rubber.
This is what essentially is happening to the car tires, cracks in the rubber begin to develop over time. They appear from the inside and out. These dangerous cracks could eventually cause the tread to separate from the rest of tire like what happened to the 1998 Ford Explorer. Improper maintenance and heat accelerates the process.
Every tire that’s on the road long enough will succumb to age. Tires that are rated for higher mileage have “anti-ozinant” chemical compounds built into the rubber that will slow the aging process, but nothing stops the effects of time on rubber, says Doug Gervin, Michelin’s director of product marketing for passenger cars and light trucks.
Carmakers, tiremakers, rubber manufacturers differ in their opinions about the life span of a car’s tire. Carmakers Merecedes-Bens and Nissan line of cars guarantees 6 years of quality tires and recommends to change their tires after. Tire manufacturers such as Continental and Michelin say a tire can last up to 10 years, provided you get annual tire inspections after the fifth year. The Rubber Manufacturers Association says there is no way to put a date on when a tire “expires,” because such factors as heat, storage and conditions of use can dramatically reduce the life of a tire.
NHTSA research found that tires age more quickly in warmer climates. NHTSA also found that environmental conditions like exposure to sunlight and coastal climates can hasten the aging process. People who live in warm weather and coastal states should keep this in mind when deciding whether they should retire a tire.
And should you say thanks about my spare tires being not exposed to sun, well this applies to spare tires and tires that are sitting in a garage or shop. Consider how a spare tire lives its life. If you own a truck, the spare may be mounted underneath the vehicle, exposed to the dirt and the elements.
If your spare is in the trunk, it’s as if it is “baking in a miniature oven,” says Dan Zielinski, senior vice president of Public Affairs for the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Most often, the spare never sees the light of day. But if the tire has been inflated and mounted on a wheel, it is technically “in service” — even if it’s never been used, Gervin says.
Here’s your tire Q&A guide to help you improve your tire’s performance.
- - Is it properly inflated?
- - Has it been repaired for puncture?
- - How long have you been using the tires?
- - How often do I use these tires?
And please, don’t buy used tires and make sure to buy new tires if you don’t wanna end up hitting everyone around randomly on the streets.
