Do tires need to be replaced after 8 years?
2 Answers
Tires generally need to be replaced after 8 years because the rubber deteriorates with age. The typical service life of tires is around 3 years or 80,000 kilometers. Here are the relevant details: 1. Introduction: The replacement time for tires depends on various factors such as tire brand, quality, driving conditions, and driving style, usually ranging between 50,000 to 80,000 kilometers. 2. Replacement conditions: Reaching the wear limit: Tires must be discontinued when they reach the wear limit indicator (i.e., when the tread depth is below 1.6 mm). Tire aging: Numerous small cracks appear at the base of the tread grooves or on the sidewalls. Tires with deformed treads or damaged bead areas: Tires that have been damaged by running under-inflated, leading to sidewall compression damage, or those corroded by chemicals should not be used further.
I just replaced my 8-year-old tires, and this is something that really needs to be taken seriously. Tire rubber ages over time, just like rubber bands become brittle after prolonged storage. Even if the tread on an 8-year-old tire is still deep, the surface may be covered with cracks, posing a significant risk of sudden blowouts at high speeds. Moreover, when driving in the rain, aged tires have reduced water drainage performance, making them particularly prone to skidding. My neighbor’s car lost control during a turn due to overly old tires, and the repair costs ended up being higher than buying new tires. I recommend you visit a professional tire shop for an inspection as soon as possible, paying special attention to the production date (look for the DOT four-digit code on the tire sidewall, with the last two digits indicating the year). Tires older than 6 years should generally be considered for replacement. Safety comes first—don’t risk it to save a little money.
