Can 5-Year-Old Tires Be Used on Highways?
2 Answers
It is not recommended for highway driving. Under normal circumstances, tires should be replaced every four years, and five years far exceeds this timeframe. Here is additional information: Introduction to tire lifespan: Under normal driving conditions, tires typically last 60,000-80,000 kilometers or 3-5 years. Of course, the service life of tires is greatly influenced by driving habits, road conditions, parking environment, and other factors, so the lifespan of car tires may vary. It is not advisable to judge simply based on mileage or years of use. Causes of accelerated wear: In terms of driving habits, frequent hard braking and rapid acceleration will accelerate tire wear, especially in urban driving where frequent starts and stops are required, potentially necessitating tire replacement before reaching 50,000 kilometers. In contrast, highway driving causes the least wear to tires compared to urban roads.
Just helped a friend deal with this recently - you really need to be cautious with 5-year-old tires on highways. My friend had a blowout on the expressway with tires that had just turned five years old, which gave him quite a scare. Tire rubber starts hardening and becoming brittle after 3 years, especially on the sidewalls that are frequently exposed to sunlight - they develop fine cracks all over. Even if the tread looks deep, aged tires simply can't provide enough support during sharp turns at 100 km/h. I always tell people around me that tires over 5 years old must undergo professional inspection: using coins to measure tread depth is just basic - the key is having mechanics check for internal delamination and whether the rubber has lost its elasticity when pressed. Oh, and it's best to carry an emergency tire inflator before long trips - absolute lifesaver for blowouts!
