To be able to sell you tires as new, they must be of a maximum age. How do you know the date of manufacture of your tires? We will explain everything to you.
“The age of your tires has a big impact on your safety. With age, the rubber hardens and can crack. The handling will be less good, and the tire is no longer as strong. not because the wear indicator has not been reached, that the tire is still usable ”specifies Damien Charron, head of a center specializing in tires.
What is the lifespan of the tires?
According to manufacturer Nokian Tires: “A tire that is over ten years old should be changed for safety. It is also recommended by professionals not to exceed six years between manufacture and sale to the end customer.
You cannot sell tires made more than five years ago as “new”. If stored correctly, in a cool, dark and dry place, the tires will retain their original technical properties during these five years. ”
How do you know the age of your tires?
As the manufacturer Goodyear specifies, “each tire is marked on its sidewall with various information such as size, speed index, or even its date of manufacture”.
To know the date of manufacture, and therefore the age of your tires, you must know how to read the tire.
The date of manufacture can be found on the sidewalls of the tire as a four-digit number of which the first two indicate the week and the last two indicate the year of manufacture.
“For example, the four digits 1117 mean that the tire was produced in week 11 of the year 2017.” says Nokian Tires.
Used tires, be careful
For Damien Charron, head of a car center, the risk of buying a tire that is too old is low: “In car centers, garages, or even on specialized internet sites, it is almost impossible, even if nothing is ‘prevents checking the date of manufacture. Inventory turnover is high enough to prevent tires from being stored for years at a dealer.
But there is a real risk if you buy your used tires, through classified ads. There is no indication that the seller is aware of these best practices. Maybe he’s even trying to get rid of those tires. We will therefore always ask for a photo of the sides. ”