Hi Scotty.
I have two cars, a 2008 Honda CRV/automatic and a 2013 Nissan Xterra/automatic. Neither car is driven much, less than 4,000 miles per year each. They are always garaged when not being driven, and the air quality here is excellent (no ozone problems).
Both cars have tires that are 8 years old. Once shops see the tire date, they want to sell me new tires instead of rotating them. They say they're "dangerous".
All of the tires look perectly new, with no signs whatever of any cracking, not even minor, either on the tread or sidewall.
I change my oil yearly because of the low mileage. What is the time interval for throwing out tires that show no signs whatever of failing? Is it dangerous to drive on perfect tires that are 8 years old?
THANKS!
@doityourself
Old tires have been the culprit in fatal accidents! If you just drive locally, … no prolonged speeds over 80 km/hr., … just check them often, you probably will be OK. Probably! I would, definitely, draw a fat red line at 10 years mark from the inprint on the sidewall.
Rule of thumb: … don’t buy new tire if production stamp is more than a year out, don’t buy them if production stamp on the sidewall varies among the four tires by more than 4 weeks, … and ditch them when six years passes if you intend to drive fast. Skip used tire market altogether.
Best,
F.S.
Any tire can be susceptible to UV damage, Ozone damage, and in extended periods of non-operation, flat-spotting.
While tire materials are being compounded, manufacturers add carbon black to protect tires against UV damage, and waxes to reduce the effects of Ozone. Both can be lost in the tire over time and in tire use.
Storage in a garage or in other protected conditions can reduce or prevent damage from UV or Ozone, but preventing flat-spotting takes periodic tire contact with a driving surface with the vehicle moving, preferably under normal operating load.
To prevent flat-spotting of tires on a vehicle, take the vehicle and tires for a short drive once a week or so.
Coupled with checks for cracking or other damage, you can then retain tires for many years and not have to discard them simply because of calendar age.
I check the side walls of your tires. If you can not find small cracks, I think they should be fine.
I would disagree. Rubber ages with cracks or not. If you're just doing in town driving you'd probably be ok. If you're taking road trips I wouldn't drive on 8 yr. old tires.
@charley95
I agree that tire ages but it shows with cracks on the sidewall. My point is that you can not hide the age and if it is old, you definitely find some small cracks on the sidewall.