Locations

Why is Tire Age Important?

How much tread you have left is an important indicator for when it’s time to change tires, but there’s another: age. How old your tires are should also be considered when determining if it’s time for new tires. That’s because the rubber and interior components that make up your tires wear out over time. Think about how a rubber band loses elasticity and becomes more brittle until it breaks. Tires are similar. They can only last for so long before losing their effectiveness.

Some automotive manufacturers recommend replacing your tires when they are five-six years old, regardless of the amount of tread remaining. Old tires can experience tread separation and are more susceptible to punctures and blowouts, so it’s safer to replace them.

How Old Are My Tires?

Look at the sidewall to determine the age of your tire. You should see DOT followed by a string of 10-12 characters. If your tires were manufactured before 2000, there will be three digits at the end. This will tell you the week and year the tires were manufactured. The first two digits are the week, and the last digit is the year. For example, 046 would be the fourth week of the year. The problem is that the year could be 1996 or 1986. The last digit doesn’t specify the year so great. It’s not recommended by most auto manufacturers or tire manufacturers that you drive on tires this old today.

For tires 2000 to current, you’ll see four digits at the end instead of three. The first two are the week and the last two are the year. So 0412 would be the fourth week of 2012.

When it’s time to change new tires, Precision Auto & Tire in Osage Beach, MO can help. Get started online or visit us today to discover the right tires for how you drive, where you drive, and what you drive.

Find My Tires See All Tire Brands