At what age do tyres become illegal?

While there's no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture.

How old can tires be and still be legal?

There are no laws or regulations prohibiting the sale of tires manufactured more than six years ago, but both safety experts and many vehicle manufacturers recommend against using any tire older than six years.

How old tyres can be used in UK?

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, introduced new requirements that ban the use of tyres aged more than 10-years on certain vehicles.

Can you drive with 10 year old tires?

Over 10 Years Old:

Any tire over ten years old is too weak to ensure safe driving. At this age, it's imperative that you replace your tires. For your safety, we will not service any tires aged 10 years or older.

Are 8 year old tires safe?

The rubber trade association, as well as Michelin and Continental, said tires can be safely used for up to 10 years, provided the tread is not worn and there is no visible dry rot.

Are Your Tires too Oold? Tire age Limit

Are 12 year old tires safe?

But 12-year-old tires would exceed all age limits in the world of rubber radials. Most tiremakers say tires should be inspected after six years and replaced after 10, and several automakers recommend replacing tires after six years of use.

Are 9 year old tyres safe?

In short, even though a tyre over ten years old may seem fine for driving, we still recommend getting new tyres for your car. Drivers cannot rely on visual inspection for rubber cracking, wear to the tread or other signs of deterioration due to age.

Can you use 20 year old tires?

Per BRMA, unused tires over six years old should never be put in service, and all tires should be replaced after 10 years from their date of manufacture. JATMA recommends inspection after five years and replacement after 10, regardless of treadwear and overall condition.

Are 7 year old tyres OK?

There is no definitive tyre age limit as to when you should replace your tyres but once your tyres reach 7-10 years old, you should keep a close eye on their condition and consider replacing them. Tyre ageing is commonly identified by small cracks, known as crazing, which appear in the tyre sidewall.

Are 5 year old tyres OK?

Usually, the tyre tread wears down quicker than that. For older tyres, you can: Check for signs of cracking on the sidewalls of tyres 4 or 5 years old if your car's parked outside. Replace them if the cracking's severe.

Is it OK to buy 2 year old tires?

Old “New” Rubber

The tread is good, and the manufacture stickers may still be on it. When tires reach a certain age the rubber begins to dry out and crack. That can make it unsafe for road use because it may run the risk of blowing out, falling apart, or lose traction during bad road conditions.

Do tires really expire?

Every tire has a birth date—the day it was manufactured—and an expiration date that is six years from that manufacture date. Most automobile manufacturers warn drivers to replace vehicle tires after six years. To wait any longer than that is a gamble with tire integrity and is risky for drivers.

Do tyres expire?

While there is a manufactured date, there is no official expiration date for tyres. Tyres do not expire like how you would imagine food expires.

How long can tires sit unused?

In general, tires can sit unused for 6-10 years. Though, after the six-year mark, an annual inspection will be necessary.

Can I drive on 15 year old tires?

Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there's no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. Old tires have been the culprit in fatal accidents.

Is it OK to drive on old tires?

Old tires can be dangerous, even if the tread appears to be okay. In many cases, old tires show no visible sign of deterioration and appear to be safe, usable tires. Because they are rubber products, tires have a limited service life, since tire rubber compounds deteriorate over time.

What happens to tires after 10 years?

There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.

How do you tell if a tyre is out of date?

The chronological age of any tire can be found on the tire sidewall by examining the characters following the symbol "DOT". The last four numbers identify the date of manufacture of the tire to the nearest week. The first two of these four numbers identify the week of manufacture (which range from "01" to "53").

How do I know if my tyres are legal?

The 20p test is a simple, quick and easy way of checking the tyre tread of your car's wheels. Just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can't see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.

How old tyres should you buy?

2- Ten years is a maximum

If the tyres haven't been replaced 10 years after their date of manufacture, as a precaution, Michelin recommends replacing them with new tyres. Even if they appear to be in a usable condition and have not been worn down to the tread wear indicator. This applies to spare tyres as well.

Are old tyres an MOT failure?

Tyres that are aged 10 years and older will become a failure item at annual test. If these tyres do not display a date code, they will also fail. As part of the annual test, our Vehicle Standards Assessors (VSAs) will check that each tyre displays a date of manufacture or re-treading.

What is an illegal tyre UK?

The legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on your tyres is 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. For safety reasons, it is recommended that you replace your car tyres before the legal limit is reached.

Are second hand tyres illegal?

Under the Regulations, it is illegal to supply any part-worn tyre that is capable of being fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer unless certain conditions are met regarding specific markings and the general condition of the tyre.

Are cracks in tyres illegal?

Are cracked tyres illegal? Small tyre cracks are not illegal but are a sign that your tyre will need replacing soon. If the cracks within the tyre are substantial then this is a dangerous fault and can potentially result in a tyre blowout.

Do tires harden as they age?

The lifespan of an average tire is six years, regardless of mileage. Once tires hit that age, the rubber compound begins to harden, and the rubber is more likely to crack. It also doesn't grip the road surface the way it did when it was new.