Should Tires Be Replaced After Six Years?
4 Answers
It depends on the specific situation. Generally, the lifespan of tires is around 5 years. If 6-year-old tires are not severely aged, with few surface cracks and minimal wear, they can still be used. Below is relevant information about tires: 1. Wear: Tires have wear indicators. There are triangle marks on the side of the tire; when the wear reaches the point indicated by the triangle mark, replacement is recommended. Inside the tire's tread grooves, there are also raised markers; when the wear reaches these raised markers at the tire's surface, replacement is necessary. Simple punctures can be repaired without needing replacement. Bulges must be replaced. 2. Aging: Rubber oxidizes in the air, becoming harder and reducing grip. Therefore, even if a set of tires is not used, their lifespan will decrease. It is not recommended to use tires for more than 5 years from the production date. The production date is indicated on the side of the tire.
I've been repairing cars for almost 20 years, and I've handled more tires than the meals you've eaten. Six years is definitely a critical threshold! Rubber aging is no joke - the surface may look fine, but it's actually like sun-dried rubber bands that crumble at a touch. Last week, a Volkswagen Bora came in with seven-year-old tires that the owner said were only used for grocery shopping. When we removed them, the insides were full of spiderweb-like cracks you could fit a fingernail into. If you don't want to hear firecracker sounds on the highway at midnight, get to a tire shop immediately. Focus on three key points: check for bulges on the sidewalls, whether the tread grooves still have coin thickness depth, and the amount of sidewall cracking. Don't believe that 'spare tires are fine if never used' - spare tires age even when stored in the trunk.
Yesterday, while picking up my child from school, the teacher commented that my tires looked like alligator skin. All four tires were exactly six years old and had already been patched three times. The mechanic used a screwdriver to pry open the tread and showed me the inside—it was full of dry cracks. He said, 'This is the car you use daily to transport your child. On rainy days, the braking distance could extend by half a street.' Then he did the math for me: replacing all four tires with domestic brands would cost just over 2,000 yuan, but if a tire burst and damaged the chassis, the repair cost would be enough to buy three sets of tires. Scared by his words, I replaced them on the spot. On the way home, I even felt the steering wheel was lighter. With winter approaching, how important tire grip is! Saving money on this just isn't worth it.
Our fleet has mandated the replacement of all tires older than five years this year. Don't call it wasteful - just last month, we dealt with three accidents caused by blowouts of aged tires. The rubber's shelf life is what it is; even if the car sits idle, the tires will still harden and become brittle. Here's my advice: for vehicles frequently driven on highways, replace tires every six years without fail. For city commuters, carefully inspect the depth of tread cracks. I've seen the most outrageous case where an owner hadn't changed tires for eight years, daring to drive on mountain roads with nearly worn-out treads. The outcome? The steel belts were exposed. Nowadays, changing tires is quite convenient - make an online appointment, and chain stores can get it done in half an hour.
