How Long Is the Life of the Tires?
The most important aspect affecting the safe driving of vehicles is the solid tires. Tires that ensure the contact of cars with the ground are always vital. How long is the life of the tires used in vehicles? The service life of tires varies depending on the manufacturer and the use case. Vehicle users should have information about the condition and life of the tires. Tire lifetimes are calculated as km and years made with the tire. Making calculations based on years or km alone will not be a healthy determination for tire life.
Tire Change Times
The change times of the tires used in the vehicles are determined by the checks made on the tire. Tire change times can be determined according to the tire tread depth and conditions such as cracking occurring on the tire. When the tire tread depth drops below 1.6 mm, it needs to be replaced regardless of the tire age. Tire manufacturers recommend that the replacement operations be carried out as soon as they go below 3 mm. After the vehicle tires have been used for 5 years, the following checks should definitely be made.
Physical structure,
Wear condition,
Tooth depth,
Handling,
Braking performance,
If it is deemed necessary after these checks have been made, tire changes should be made at the end of 5 years.
How Long is the Shelf and Standby Life of Tires?
The manufactured tires are stored in various warehouses under appropriate storage conditions until they are delivered to the user. The shelf life of automobile tires is determined as between 8 and 10 years. Dec. Manufacturers do not provide any warranty for tires that have been waiting on the shelves for more than 10 years.
Even if the spare tires of the vehicles have never been used, they should be replaced if the waiting life exceeds 10 years. Users look at the appearance of the tires and whether there is damage. Experts, on the other hand, state that tires that have filled the shelf and standby life should definitely be replaced.
How Long Should Car Tires Be Used?
Tire manufacturing companies show production date information on car tires. In vehicles, the waiting period and service life of 10 years are determined from the date of production in order for the tires to be used safely. Based on the production date on the tire, the tire must be replaced after 10 years, even if it is new. A tire that has been waiting on the shelf for 2 years will be able to be used for 8 years after it is installed on vehicles. During this time, tooth depth and tire damage checks should be performed. When buying car tires, the date information on them should definitely be checked.
Understanding That the Life of Tires Is Over
It is understood that the life of automobile tires is over with the checks made. Under normal conditions, a lifetime of 100 thousand km and 10 years is determined for tires. As the vehicles make way, the tire tread depth level will start to decrease. When the tread depth decreases to the level of 1.6 mm, it is understood that the life of that tire is over.
Another method is that if the period between the date on the tire and the current date is 10 years or more, it means that the standby and service life of that tire is over. Dec. Tires that have been 10 years past their production date should be replaced for safety reasons, even if they look good.
Cracks That Occur in Car Tires
When car tires are being manufactured, protective layers are made on them. The protective layers will start to peel off depending on the use or by being damaged during cleaning with chemicals. These applications cause cracks to occur in the tires. The intensity of cracks occurring in the tires or the depth of cracks will pose a great risk to the tire. It indicates that the service life of the tires has expired and needs to be replaced.
Summer and Winter Tire Life
The tires used on the vehicles have different characteristics as summer tires, winter tires or all-season tires. It is recommended to use 4 seasons for winter tires. The manufacturer companies have determined the shelf life and service life for all tire types as 10 years. However, all-season tires should be checked and replaced after traveling 70 thousand km. For safe driving of vehicles, all tires must be checked when reaching 35 thousand km.
Is the Production Date of the Tire Important?
It is known that automobile tires are made by adding rubber and various additives to provide comfort. According to the types of materials used, attention is paid to reducing the wear condition and avoiding tire noise during use. The production dates of tires are important for determining the service life and safety.
Even when a new tire is to be purchased, the dates on the tire provide information about the service life of the tire. In recent years, the production dates of tires have started to appear on the tire in the form of weeks and years. It is shown as DOT 1621 with the abbreviation DOT. The year of this tire is 2021 16. It means that it is produced during the week.
Can the Tire Life Be Extended?
Automobile tires are produced according to seasonal conditions, and the tires are sensitive to temperature. Tires used in the summer period can lead to various hazards in the winter season. In order to extend the life of the tires, the tire pressures must be kept within the specified December. Checking the pressures regularly and keeping them at the same level will reduce tire wear.
In order to extend the life of the tires, it should be noted that;
Asphalt roads should be preferred,
Tires suitable for the season should be used,
Cosmetic products should not be used in tire cleaning,
Tires of the sizes recommended by the factory should be used,
When vehicle users pay attention to these issues, they will be able to use the tires on their vehicles without problems until they complete their service life. When tire pressures are not controlled, the tires will start to wear out from the side surfaces along with the teeth due to the low pressure, which will shorten the life of the tire.
Using Old Dated Tires
Those who want to change the tires of their cars prefer to use old tires in order to find cheaper tires. It is possible to reach different explanations for the service life of tires. The service life of the tires has been determined as 10 years. Old dated tires can be continued to be used if they have not completed this service life and no damage has occurred anywhere.
tires that are over 10 years old will start to lose their flexibility, no matter how new they look. When vehicles are going at high speed, they need more tire flexibility. Old tires can cause various problems, as they will lose their elasticity.