All About Tire Aging

The lifespan of a tire maxes out at 40,000 miles, six years, or when it is visibly damaged. Paying attention to the shape and age of your tire is of utmost importance. An old tire will go through dry rot, sidewall cracking, and as far as tread separations and blowouts.

Keep your tires rotated and aligned.

A couple of weeks ago, we talked all about how important it is to keep a close eye on your tread. In all likelihood, 40,000 miles will have worn down your tread beyond needing to be replaced. But maybe the type of driving you do stretch your tires further. Yet, the average American driver will have put 40,000 miles under their belts in much less than four years.

So, what you have to worry about are cars you do not drive every day, ATVs, tires on boats or trailers, or uninstalled tires. In fact, if you frequently drive on your tires, they will last for far more miles than one staying stationary. When you drive your car, you rotate your tires, and it turns them over, circulating the oils throughout.

The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells us that drivers in hot climates will need to replace their tires more often. If your tires sit out in the sun’s UV rays, then their rubber will deteriorate fast. This is where we experience that dry rot we worry about. While drying out is one issue, a coastal, humid climate will also pose a problem. The solution to these problems is storage in a climate-controlled garage and occasionally taking them out on the road.

Calculating the Age of Your Tire

For a tire that has never been ridden on and for the tires on your car, we highly recommend that you get new tires after six years. Some will say that an unused and well-stored tire does not expire until ten years. There is no official expiration date. However, your chances for tire failure go up fast as you run on older tires. For example, one of the largest causes of the high profile and infamous crash resulting in Paul Walker’s death was the car’s nine-year-old tires. Even if your tires still have deep grooves and lasting tread, they can fall apart on you in the middle of the road.

To find out how old your tires are, locate the Department of Transportation Code (DOT). It is on the 15-digit inner ring of numbers and letters on your tire’s sidewall. The last four digits of that code will tell you the week and year of manufacture. For example, a tire with a DOT code ending in “2920” was made in the 29^th week of 2020. As long as its tread holds up and you see no outward signs of dry rot, then it should be good till the 29^th week of 2026.

Your Ford Tires’ Age

We care about your safety on the road. This is why we want you to keep an eye out on your tire’s condition and age at all times. While your vehicle is in our Tire & Auto Center, we promise to do the same. Right now, you can get up to $180 in savings on a new set of tires at your local Ford dealership. Start by calling (859) 341-6603 and take advantage of our Ford Service Coupons.