All tires come with an expiration date, even unused ones. Tire manufacturers recommend replacing used tires after the 5 or 6-year mark. Does this rule then apply to tires that have not been used or kept for storage? Are tires still safe after 5 years of now use?
According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), unused tires are no longer 100% safe to use after crossing the 5-year mark. If kept in the right storage conditions, they are operable. However, you will be making a gamble with this compromised tire integrity.
So how do you know whether they are safe to use or not? Continue reading to find out.
Do Tires Expire After 5 Years Of No Use?
While 5-year old unused tires are considered unsafe, this age is not considered the expiration date.
Not many tire buyers are actively aware of an expiration date. This is because tires do not come with a fixed expiration date like canned foods.
This expiration date merely means that the lifetime value of your tires is limited. This time limit for stored or unused tires is the same as tires that are getting used.
Since 5 years is not counted as the expiration date, you are allowed to use these tires. Even so, manufacturers are typically reluctant to fit such tires.
Unused and used tires begin to experience degradation around the 5-year mark and hit expiration at the 6-year mark. So the consensus among tire manufacturers is that an expiration date is 6 years
from the tires’ birth date. Automobile manufacturers also consider tires that are 6 years old “expired” tires.
That is why most mechanics refuse to fit unused tires that are 6 years old.
At What Age Are Tires Unsafe?
One thing to remember about unused tires is that looks can be deceiving. Your tire tread may still look good or intact, but that does not mean they are safe for road use.
Industry standards recommend that 10 years old tires are absolutely unsafe and should be removed from storage. However, early signs of deterioration start once tires cross the 5-year mark. As a result, manufacturers and mechanics warn against the use of 5-year-old unused tires.
That is because, after 5 years of staying on the shelf or in the trunk of your car, tires succumb to old age. Since the tire has not been driven, it lacks grease, making the rubber dry or brittle, with pieces flaking off. The tire tread might still look good, but cracking rubber causes tread separation, leading to tire failure.
When looking at the tires’ age to determine their safety, you also need to take into consideration the storage. How was the tire treated in the last 5 years?
Storage conditions like heat, underinflation, humidity, and light hold a considerable influence on the applicability of this 5-year rule. For instance, some find that regularly greasing your tires will keep the rubber intact and safe for future use.
Either way, best not to take the risk with 5 years old unused tires, seeing that there is so much uncertainty.
How To Determine The Age Of The Tires
If you are not sure of how old your unused tires, not to worry. Manufacturers have made it easy to identify the chronological age of the tires by adding a serial number. These serial numbers are found on the sidewall of your tires.
It will read as Tire Identification Numer (TIN) or Department of Transportation (DOT), followed by a code of 10 or 11 numbers. The last four digits on this batch code represent the birth or manufacture date of the tires.
The last two numbers represent the year it was made, and the first two numbers represent the week within that year. For instance, the tire has the code 1317. That means it was manufactured in the 13th week of 2017.
Should You Purchase An Unused Tire?
Most people who choose to go ahead with buying old or expired unused tires do so because they are cheaper. Some also do this because they are unaware of the importance of verifying the age of the tires at the shop.
New buyers tend to think that the age is determined from the day they buy the unused tire. However, even if they are purchasing the tire newly from the shop, they still need to check the manufactured date.
You can buy an unused tire that is a few months or a year old but not more than that. Otherwise, you will not be able to get full use out of it. So if the birth date tells you the unused tire is 5 years old, definitely avoid purchasing it.
When purchasing the “new” unused tire, make sure to check with the shop how the tire was stored. This means checking if the tire had been kept in a temperature-controlled room, away from direct sunlight, and so on.
So you can purchase an unused tire but should you? It would be best that you purchase a “fresh” tire. That way, it will last you a good 5 years. You can find fresh unused tires by trusted brands like Bridgestone. Such brands follow strict guidelines to ensure they give you tires that are 100% safe for use.
Penny Check To Test The Tire’s Safety
For years, tire experts and drivers have depended on tread depth to tell them when it is time to replace your unused or used tires alike. The tire tread has to be deep enough so you can make sure there is enough traction for the tires to grip on the road.
The tread depth may have been impacted by cracks, dry rotting, or debris from being kept in the storage for so long.
Best way to check this depth is to conduct the penny test. Here are the steps you need to follow.
Step 1
For the penny test, you have to place a penny between the tread ribs. These ribs are essentially referring to the raised portion that spans across all tires. So place the penny inside the tread groove, upside down.
Step 2
At this point, you have to examine how much of the penny is showing. You want that the top of Lincoln’s head to disappear into the grooves. In case you can still see the top of his head, that means the tire tread is shallow.
Step 3
In terms of inches, you must achieve the 2/32 of an inch threshold. That’s because central transportation authorities have made it a legal requirement to change any tires that have a tread below 2/32”. This is put in place for your own safety.
For 100% tire safety, your unused tires should have a tread of 5/32” and above.
It is important that you remember not to completely depend on the results of the penny test. Although the penny test is a good indicator of tread depth, it may not give you the most accurate idea about your tire’s safety.
So to cover your tracks, you can have your unused tires checked out by a certified and licensed mechanic in your area.