Old, Tired Tires

My May 21, 2012 post discussed Google’s driverless car. The concept of a car that does the driving for its passenger wowed me. I had visions of reading and doing crossword puzzles while I sat behind the wheel.

I admit I’m having some doubts regarding the sensibility of a completely automated vehicle. How would such an automobile respond in an emergency situation? The articles I read discussed the car’s reaction to normal traffic issues such as a pedestrian crossing the road unexpectantly. But, what would happen if a tire blew out in heavy traffic at 60-plus miles per hour?

Remember, tires are age sensitive; they have a finite life. The manufacturers add chemicals to the tires to make the treads last longer but rubber still ages, and over time will fatigue. There may not be any visible signs of age, such as cracking or worn treads, but old tires can be hazardous.

Jon Christian Ryter quoted a Ford Motor Co. caution on the subject. "Tires degrade over time," the Ford warning noted, "even when they are not being used. It is recommended that tires generally be replaced after 6 years of nominal service.”

Tirerack.com reported that in 2001 the British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) stated, "BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tyres should not be put into service if they are over six years old and that all tyres should be replaced ten years from the date of their manufacture."

You may wonder why I think this is an issue. On Friday, June 8th, we drove to Ohio to celebrate our niece’s graduation from The Ohio State University. We were driving in the right lane on Route 90 West, just outside of Cleveland, in fairly heavy traffic, when our left front tire popped. Actually, the tread separated from the wheel. The car jerked to the left slightly but I never lost control and we were able to pull off the highway onto the grassy shoulder. 

Highway Tire Change



We were lucky. I’ve read some horror stories regarding incidents such as this. The tire that blew was over eight years old. I replaced all four when we got to our destination.

How do you know if you have old tires? There’s a manufacture date code on the tire and it is easy to decipher. Right after the DOT there should be a four digit number. The one on my tire was 1704. This means the tire was manufactured in the 17th week of 2004.  

 

What do you think, will you check your tires, even if you’ve just bought them, to make certain they are new?