Gross & Son Paint & Body Shop, Inc.

How Long Should My Tires Last?

You depend on your car to take you where you want to go. However, many drivers don’t give much thought to the wear and tear on their tires. Car manufacturers say tires should ideally last for 40,000 to 50,000 miles of driving, but there’s no accurate way to predict when they will fail.

Tires are an important part of any vehicle and we see it illustrated every day at Gross & Son Paint & Body Shop, Inc.. We see a lot of collisions here in FL, Pensacola that are causes by worn or faulty tires.

It can be dangerous to drive on old, worn-out tires. Rubber ages over time, and tires weaken as they get older. Tires can deteriorate even if you’re not driving on them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports about 200 deaths are caused by tire failures every year.

Although there is no expiration date, tires usually begin to degrade after five years, according to the Tire Safety Group. Most guidelines recommend replacing tires six years after they were manufactured. However, some companies that produce premium tires, like Michelin, say they can last for 10 years. The key is knowing the manufacturing date.

All tires have a Tire Identification Number, which tells the date they were manufactured. You’ll see the letters DOT and then 10-12 numbers.

If you have a tire that was made after 2000, look at the last four numbers. The first two will tell you the week and the other two are the year. Tires made before 2000 will have three numbers at the end. The first two show you the week and the last is the year.

There are many factors that determine how long tires will last. It can depend on the type, driving habits, climate, road conditions and how they are maintained.

It’s important to check tread depth regularly. In addition to using a tread depth indicator, an easy way is the penny test. Hold a penny between your thumb and forefinger and turn Lincoln’s head upside down. Put the penny in a groove where the tread is low. If you see Lincoln’s head, it may be time to replace the tires.

5 ways to prolong tires:

• Keep tires inflated properly. If they are under- or over-inflated, they can wear out more quickly.
• Rotate tires approximately every 5,000-8,000 miles to balance out the differences of wear.
• Inspect tires—about every one to three months—and visit a professional yearly. Check for excessive damage, especially if you see sidewall cracks.
• Avoid sudden braking, which is hard on your vehicle.
• Drive carefully and stay away from damaged roads, potholes and speed bumps.

Sources: Wikipedia, AARP and AAA