Under normal circumstances, how many years should tires be replaced?
2 Answers
After 2-3 years of use, small cracks will gradually appear on the sidewalls of the tires. If a large number of fine cracks are found on the tire sidewalls, the tires need to be replaced. The following is relevant information about tires: 1. The wear lifespan of tires is 30,000-50,000 kilometers. If the tires have not reached the wear limit or mileage, but have been in use for 5 years or have developed numerous cracks on the sidewalls, they should be replaced. 2. The main component of tires is rubber, and the maximum storage and anti-aging time for rubber, from natural latex to EPDM and nitrile, does not exceed 10 years. The average service life of various rubber products in use is 3-5 years. 3. Tires bear the weight of the entire vehicle, often serve to cushion impacts, and must also resist corrosive rainwater and car wash cleaning solutions. Therefore, the aging of tires can be significantly accelerated.
I've been driving for fifteen years and feel that tire lifespan varies from person to person. For regular city commuting, it's recommended to have them checked every five years or so. Tires have wear indicators in the tread grooves - when worn down to that line, they should be replaced. Rubber naturally ages and hardens, especially tires frequently exposed to sunlight will develop surface cracks. I've seen six-year-old tires that caused a skid and collision with guardrails during rainy cornering. Abnormal tire pressure also accelerates wear, so it's best to check monthly. The manufacturing date is indicated by a four-digit code on the sidewall, e.g. '1523' means the 15th week of 2023. Don't just go for cheap when buying new tires - premium brands cost more but offer significantly higher safety margins.
