Can tires produced four or five years ago still be used?
3 Answers
Tires produced four or five years ago cannot be used. Tires are rubber products and will age on their own even if not used. Continuing to use them poses a risk of blowouts. Tire shelf life: Generally, tires should not be kept in storage for more than 3 years from the date of production, and should not be used on vehicles for more than 8 years. Tire replacement cycle: The service life of car tires is four years or 80,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. If there are more than 5 damages, early replacement is required. If there is damage on the sidewall, even one instance requires replacement. If the car frequently travels on rough roads and the tires show severe wear, early replacement is necessary.
This issue really deserves careful discussion. Whether tires from four or five years ago can still be used depends mainly on their condition and your driving intensity. Rubber deteriorates and becomes brittle over time, especially if the tires have been parked under direct sunlight for extended periods—this can cause numerous fine cracks on the sidewalls. I’ve personally experienced this with my own car: the tread depth looked fine, but the sidewalls were covered in tiny cracks, making me nervous when driving on highways. Later, a mechanic showed me a chart testing tire aging, and it revealed that tires older than five years, even with minimal use, suffer significant declines in elasticity and pressure resistance, making them prone to blowouts during aggressive driving or in hot weather. So now, I advise friends to regularly check the tire’s manufacturing date—the four-digit code on the sidewall (first two digits indicate the week, last two the year). If the tires are over five years old, even with just a few thousand kilometers driven, it’s worth seriously considering replacement—safety is priceless.
As a seasoned long-distance driver, I've got plenty of experience when it comes to tires. Tires that are four or five years old might be fine for short trips, but you need to be extra cautious when driving on highways. Last year, my buddy's car had a six-year-old spare tire that looked brand new, but we discovered bulges on the sidewalls at a rest stop. Rubber aging is inevitable, especially if the car is parked outdoors exposed to sun and rain—the tires feel noticeably harder than new ones. If you see cracks on the sidewalls, replace them immediately; it means the rubber's molecular structure has degraded and is prone to sudden splitting. During maintenance, ask the mechanic to check the condition of the inner liner and belt layers. If there's any separation, even if the tires are only three years old, they need to be replaced. Remember, tread wear isn't the only thing to watch out for—aging is the silent killer.
