Just because the treads of a tire are good, does not mean the tire is still safe. Tire age is also a factor. Care must be taken to be certain the tires on a vehicle are not past a safe age. Many experts agree that six-years is the safe life of a tire. Even though the treads may still look good, the construction of the tire could be compromised.
The internal plies of a tire are carefully bonded together when the tire is constructed. The tread is also attached to the carcass in a similar way. In time the adhesives holding the tire together age. When the treads break loose from the carcass, the tire becomes very unstable and can unexpectedly blow out.
Rubber also dry rots over time. Small cracks form in the material and can compromise the tire.
Care should be taken in inspecting a tire for dry rot cracks. The age of a tire can be determined by inspecting the DOT number on the sidewall. Please visit our Michelin Tire category for an example of checking the DOT date code.
Perhaps worse, tires are sometimes sold as new, that are actually several years old. Just because the tread appears new, does not change the age of the tire. Some experts say, such tires that have been stored may be worse than tires that have been in service.
Great care should be taken in selecting tires. AGCO verifies the age of a tire before installing it on your vehicle. Thin tire treads mean an unsafe tire, but it is not the only thing to watch for.
