How can I tell how old my car tyres are?
The week and year of manufacture of the tyre is always marked on the sidewall. A car tyre marked 2505 was manufactured in week 25 of 2005. 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. Tyre makers specify strict storage conditions for tyres, as they can deteriorate if these aren’t met. Signs of aging can include cracking in the sidewall area due to ozone attack, and discolouring if they come into contact with certain chemicals. But if you see any signs of this when buying new tyres, check the date marking and reject them if they are more than nine months old.
