How old are your tyres? After five years or more in service, your tyres should be thoroughly inspected at least once per year. If the need arises, follow the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer regarding replacing the original equipment tyres. As a precaution, if the tyres have not been replaced 10 years from their date of manufacture (see how to read a tyre sidewall below), then tyre manufacturers recommend replacing them with new tyres. Even if they appear to be in usable condition and have not worn down to the tread wear indicator. How To Read Your Tyres Manufacture Date The week and year of manufacture of the tyre is always marked on the sidewall. A tyre marked 2501 was manufactured in week 25 of 2001. Manufacturers usually also mark tyres to show which factory they were made in, so they can trace where and when a faulty tyre was made. Where do I find this on my tyre? Find a string of numbers & letters close to the tyres bead usually starting with DOT at the end you will find the 3 or 4 numbers relating to your tyres age. If your tyres have just 3 numbers they will have been made pre- 2000 and even if they still have plenty of tread on them, it is recommended changing them as they may be subject to rubber corrosion. You might want to check when a tyre was made. Tyre makers specify strict storage conditions for tyres, as they can deteriorate if these arent met. Signs of ageing can include cracking in the sidewall area due to ozone attack, and discolouring if they come into contact with certain chemicals. Tyres have protective chemicals impregnated into the rubber compound, released as the tyre flexes when you drive, to resist ozone attack. You rarely see tyres that have evidence of ozone attack unless theyve been mishandled before theyve been sold.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:50:01 +0000