There is more to tire safety than adequate tread depth and proper inflation levels. Age alone is a major factor in tire safety. As tires age, the rubber dries out and makes them more prone to blowouts and tread separation. This applies to new-old-stock tires as well as to used tires.
No laws in the United States restrict the age of tires. In states with inspection laws – Florida is not one of them – all that is tested is tread wear. A tire has a useful life of six years. Accordingly, for consumers to get at least two years of useful life from a tire, it should be no more than four years old at the time of purchase.
Unfortunately, retailers can sell tires that are more than six years old. Many are much older, sometimes 15 years and above. These tires are accidents waiting to happen.
The tire industry has known of the “aged” tire danger for decades. However, they have resisted calls for tire expiration dates. Profits before people.
DETERMINING TIRE AGE: A tire will have an identification number on the sidewall that begins with the letters DOT. The last four digits represent the week and year the tire was manufactured. For example, “DOT ANVF F771 1909,” indicates that the tire was manufactured in the 19th week of 2009.
Our law firm is experienced in handling product defect cases such as aged tires. If you or a loved one has been damaged by a tire blowout or separation, please contact us for a free, confidential consultation.