If you have a car, then you’ll most probably agree that tyres are quite important to your vehicle’s efficiency, safety and reliability.
However, we need to remember that tyres—regardless of how expensive or branded they may be—will succumb to age. Over the years, your ever useful tyres will depreciate, and will need to be replaced. Otherwise, there will be a safety issue in your hands.
So, how do we make sure that our tyres are still dependable and useful?
Here are some aspects that you might want to take into account:
Good Tyre Treads Does Not Automatically Equate to Usability
Although having good tyre treadsis a good indicator that it’s not worn out, that doesn’t strictly mean it’s not ripe for replacement.
Think about it: If you have a car that you only use during the weekends, chances are its tyre treads might still look good. Unfortunately, if such tyres have gone beyond their expiry date—then they will still need to be replaced.
Remember that an aged tyre (even if bought “brand new”) does not make it safe on the road. In fact, using aged tyres may compromise your vehicle’s handling and drivability. So, you need to be extra careful in taking your pick.
What Happens When Tyres Age?
Considering that tyres are generally made of rubber, they will eventually crack over time (like a rubber band does). Such cracks may develop in the exterior or interior of the tyre, which means significant cracks could already have developed inside your tyres—without you noticing it. And that’s where the problem lies.
Tyre cracks may likewise eventually cause the steel belts of the tyre to separate, which obviously, can be a very serious issue.
It is worthy to note, however, that certain tyre types and brands actually make use of “anti-ozinant” compounds that delay the ageing process. However, that doesn’t make the tyres “immortal.” Eventually, time will catch up with these tyres. That is why we need to be as prudent and as careful as possible in ensuring that our tyres are in top shape.
Inspecting Your Old Tyres
Keep in mind that most tyres have expiry dates. Try to look at your tyres and see if they still fall within the appropriate periods. If they still are, check for any cracks, deformation or signs of damage.
You might also want to consider the type of car your tyres came with. Most car manufacturers suggest replacement of tyres—despite tread life (or how good the treads look) within a specific period of time.
Note: Various factors such as heat, frequency of use, storage, driving habits and many others can play a role on how safe (or unsafe) your tyres will be. Hence, you might want to look into them as well.
So, are your old tyres still safe on the road? Try to check them out for yourself. After all, safety is and will always be important, right?