What effect does tire age have on tire durability and safety?
This is currently a topic of significant conjecture that came to the forefront following the Ford Explorer/Firestone tire issues in the year 2000. There are no definitive studies that quantify the effects of age on tires at this time. The Department of Transportation is seeking to establish an accelerated testing procedure to evaluate the effects of tire aging. Several automobile manufacturers have included warnings in their owners manuals regarding tire age and have recommended replacement of tires following six years of use. The tire manufacturers have strongly disagreed with this suggestion. One tire manufacturer has stated that tires should not be in service longer than ten years. It should be noted that tire durability varies depending on operating conditions and maintenance levels. Tires should be inspected during periodic 5000 mile rotation intervals for signs that might indicate a loss of structural integrity.
