Do tires need to be replaced after five years of use?
2 Answers
Tires that have been in use for 5 years should be replaced promptly. The longer tires are used, the higher the risk of tread deformation and blowouts. Tires are rubber products. Prolonged exposure to air, especially to air and sunlight, causes gradual aging, leading to a decline in performance and a sharp increase in the likelihood of blowouts. To extend the service life of tires, it is recommended to rotate the tires every 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers. Generally, front tires wear out more severely than rear tires. Rotating them ensures more even wear and prevents the front tires from becoming unusable due to excessive wear. When rotating the tires, it is also advisable to perform a four-wheel alignment and tire dynamic balance to prevent uneven wear that would necessitate premature replacement. Four-wheel alignment adjusts the vehicle's suspension parameters to ensure the wheels are aligned straight forward, while dynamic balance ensures the weight balance of the entire wheel by matching counterweights. Before driving, check the tire pressure to ensure it is neither too high nor too low, typically maintained around 2.2-2.5 Bar. In winter, as temperatures drop, tire pressure decreases due to thermal contraction. Therefore, it is recommended to inflate the tires appropriately during colder months.
Tires used for five years require careful inspection of their actual condition. If the vehicle is driven infrequently, mostly in urban areas with minimal wear and no cracks, they might still be usable for a while. However, rubber naturally ages, and after five years, tires become like old rubber bands with significantly reduced elasticity. Especially for cars parked outdoors year-round, the sidewalls are often covered in small cracks, making them risky for highway driving. I recommend first checking the tread depth at a professional shop—replace immediately if it's below 1.6mm. Also, look for bulges or cracks. If the DOT code on the sidewall shows a production date over five and a half years old, replace them without hesitation. Safety always outweighs saving a few hundred bucks.
