Do car tires have an expiration date?

Everyone wants to ensure driving safety. One way is to pay attention to the condition of the vehicle components. Tires are often a concern because their role is very vital. For this reason, some people are worried that the car tires they are using are expired.

This concern arises because every product has a shelf life. They are afraid that if they use expired ones, the tires will not perform well. Tires that are in bad condition are very dangerous. Safety and driving comfort are at stake.

However, you can be relieved. In principle, there is no expiration date for car tires. So, if the condition is still good, the tire can always be used. You need to realize that tires are not a food product that can spoil. Tires come from natural rubber or synthetic rubber which is processed in such a way. The material is durable so it has no shelf life.

The existence of a production time code listed on the tire is also not a reference to the expiry date of car tires. Each tire does have a four-digit code on the side of the tire. The digits indicate when the tire was manufactured. The last two digits show the year of manufacture. Meanwhile, the first two digits indicate the production week. So, when there is a production code 0419, it means the tire was made in the fourth week of 2019 or the first week of February 2019.

The production code cannot be used as a benchmark for the expiry date of car tires. As long as they are stored and cared for properly, car tires will always last. If it is well maintained, the tire can be used. Drivers don't need to be afraid to wear them. Even so, car tire manufacturers in Indonesia made a special agreement. They set five years as the warranty period for tires after they are manufactured. After that, guarantees for tire condition are no longer provided by tire manufacturers.

Does that mean tires produced after five years are not suitable for use? Look at the condition first. If proper storage and maintenance are carried out, the tire material will remain intact. If the condition is still good, the car tires can be used as usual. There's nothing to worry about.

CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE

Instead of thinking about the expiry date of car tires, it is better to use the condition of the tires as a reference for whether the tires are suitable for use or not. Good tires must be in smooth condition, without cracks or bumps. If the tire looks cracked or has some brittleness here and there, it's better not to use it. Moreover, if there is a tear that shows the tire wire. This means that the tire is damaged so it is prone to breaking.

Check the condition of the car tires in detail. Good car tires must be free from bumps. Avoid using lumpy tires because they have the potential to burst or tear in the middle of the road. In short, don't worry about using expired tires without realizing it. Car tires will never be “stale”. However, if it has been used for some time, the condition of the tires will deteriorate. When that time comes, immediately replace it with new tires.

Usually the service life of car tires is between 80 thousand and 90 thousand km. However, this cannot be used as a definite benchmark because the way you drive, road conditions and the intensity of use of each car will have a different effect.

It's better to look at the Tread Wear Indicator (TWI) on the tire. TWI is in the form of a triangular symbol located at the bottom limit of the tire tread and the rubber protrusion between the tire treads. If the TWI is visible or even eroded, tire replacement needs to be done immediately.

However, don't wait for TWI to appear. Measure the thickness of the tire tread with a Tire Depth Gauge to know when to replace the tire more accurately. If it reaches 1.6 mm, it is recommended to replace the tire. However, if you want to wait, the maximum limit is 1.4 mm.

Use this to determine when to change tires. Don't think about expiration period for car tires which has no validity.