What is the lifespan of car tires
Useful tips for motorists

What is the lifespan of car tires

Issues related to the life of car tires are of concern not only to car owners, but also to manufacturers. There are no technical difficulties with ensuring the long-term preservation of rubber; the topic is more of a legal and economic one. It is not very profitable to invest in increasing the durability of tires if the time limits are limited by laws, and competitors are not going to act against their own benefit.

What is the lifespan of car tires

Therefore, the declared lifetime of tires is approximately the same for everyone, and experience shows that it quite coexists with common sense.

What is the shelf life of tires

The expiration date is considered to be a guaranteed time during which you can not expect surprises from the tires, the manufacturer is sure that the product at any time of this period will meet all its characteristics. And legislative documents and factory standards specify the data.

What is the lifespan of car tires

GOST

According to GOST 4754-97, which regulates the properties of car tire models entering the market, the minimum allowable shelf life is 5 years. That is, manufacturers are obliged to give a guarantee that, subject to the rules of operation, nothing will happen to the tire during this time, and it will fully ensure its declared properties.

This does not mean that after 5 years the tire can be thrown away, but it has the right to partially lose some of its qualities. Despite the experience among motorists and professionals that tires really live up to 10 years, this is also confirmed by some manufacturers, after the expiration date, the owner of the car will already take responsibility for safety.

What is the lifespan of car tires

The tire may noticeably or without visible changes lose many parameters, including those directly affecting safety:

  • grip properties of the rubber compound of the tread with various types of road surfaces;
  • the strength of the cord, which is responsible for the correct shape of the tire profile under operating pressure and the resistance of the wheel to shock loads;
  • tire tightness, which affects the likelihood of a sudden loss of pressure, which is tantamount to destruction;
  • wear rate under severe operating conditions.

Following the recommendations of GOST will help to avoid trouble, at least significantly reduce their likelihood.

Summer tires

If someone is sure that rubber will not change its properties much even in 10 years, then this is more likely to apply specifically to summer tires. They have a deliberately more rigid and resistant rubber compound, a durable cord with minimal susceptibility to side slips.

What is the lifespan of car tires

But this also has a downside. Summer tires are subjected to significantly more severe use, due to high speeds and temperatures - two of the main enemies of road rubber. Therefore, you should not rely on the special strength of hard summer tires.

Even the fastest and highest quality tires are recommended to be replaced with new ones after about 6 years of operation, regardless of the remaining tread depth, which is important, but does not guarantee safety.

Winter

Winter tires are much softer, because they work at low temperatures and should not “tan” at the same time. Each winter type, and these are friction "Velcro" and studded tires, this is what guarantees its grip on a coating that seems absolutely unsuitable for movement.

What is the lifespan of car tires

The sipes of friction tires must have flexibility and geometric dimensions that ensure the tightest possible contact of the ribs with ice. This is how a non-studded winter tire works, and not the “sticking” method, as you might think from the popular name. It is simply impossible to stick there, the ice in the contact zone melts, and the rubber slides.

Studded tires are required to hold steel spikes in their sockets, while allowing them to have a well-defined freedom. Naturally, if the tread loses its elasticity properties, then, as in the case of Velcro, nothing good will come of traction with ice, snow or even cold asphalt.

The manufacturer knows this, so strict measures are taken to ensure the long-term stability of the rubber properties.

The rubber will work out its 5 years, but you need to know that at the end of the term it will already be a tire with very mediocre contact with the winter road. The owner who cares about safety will simply replace it in no more than three seasons. Which is indirectly supported by manufacturers who update their winter tire model lines at about the same frequency.

How long does rubber last without use?

When storing tires, even perfectly correct ones, they cannot look younger in any way. Contact with atmospheric oxygen, slow reactions in rubber, plastic and metal, are ongoing, so storage is included in the guaranteed shelf life.

Buying a tire that has been stored for these five years is too optimistic. Although even at the end of the term the wheel will remain completely safe and meet the requirements of the manufacturer.

What is the lifespan of car tires

But formally, in a year, the tire will be theoretically unusable. And here a lot depends on information that cannot be accessed.

No one will say how the tires were stored, how carefully all the recommendations were followed. Especially if it's winter tires. Here it is definitely not worth buying after a long storage.

Factors Affecting Tire Operation

Service life can be extended by moderate use:

  • the lower the speed, the longer the tire will last;
  • the same can be said about temperature;
  • at least once a year it is necessary to check the wheel alignment angles;
  • pressure should be strictly maintained according to the recommendations of the instructions and monitored weekly;
  • swapping wheels is worth it only if the driver is sure why it is needed, and not just because the instructions say so;
  • the tire must be balanced, even if its vibration is imperceptible;
  • hard braking and acceleration affect wheel life even worse than speed and temperature, in the same way as limit turns.

Do not leave the car in the open sun, it is detrimental not only to the body, but also to the tires.

How to identify expired tires

According to the standard, the date of manufacture of the tire is indicated in an oval molding on the sidewall and consists of 4 digits. The first two are the week of the year, the second two are the last digits of the year of issue. It is not difficult to count how much is left until the guaranteed expiration date. Everyone can decide for himself whether he is ready to take goods that have lain in an unknown place for 5 years, or you can go to the next store and buy new tires. Maybe a good discount is worth it.

What is the lifespan of car tires

Why does rubber deteriorate during storage

During storage, rubber deteriorates if certain conditions are violated:

  • orientation of tires when laying them on the shelves of the warehouse;
  • minimum and maximum temperature;
  • air humidity;
  • illumination, especially in the UV range;
  • temperature changes;
  • the presence of chemicals in the air.

What is the lifespan of car tires

Specific data for each item is given in the technical documentation of tires. But even without this, it is known how to equip warehouses for automotive rubber. It is important how the supplier follows the rules.

When tires should not be used

Tire condition is an essential element of safety. Therefore, they must certainly be replaced with new ones if:

  • tread depth does not comply with the regulations, it is different for all types of rubber;
  • the expiration date is significantly exceeded, the tire is more than 10 years old;
  • there are deep cuts, the cord or breaker is damaged;
  • the tire has been subjected to uneven wear;
  • rubber began to crack from age and hard use;
  • the tire does not hold pressure even on a new disk;
  • the wheel is not well balanced.

What is the lifespan of car tires

More precisely the condition of the tire can be determined by a specialist. Experienced tire workers have a lot of practical information.

How to extend the life of car tires

Tires cannot be considered a perishable commodity, delicate and needing to be stored away from roads and cars. These are durable, resistant and high-tech products designed for many hardships of the road service. And there is only one condition for them to fully work out their considerable resource - to follow the rules of operation.

Some of them are outlined above, the rest are taught in driving schools. There are no secret tricks and nuances here. Pressure, speed, temperature, jerky driving on bad roads - the effect of such driving on rubber is known to everyone. You can add only the provision of seasonal storage conditions.

Changes from summer tires to winter tires and vice versa have become mandatory. If there is no confidence and conditions that it is possible to independently meet the above requirements for tire storage, then it is better to use the services of warehouse organizations that have appeared, where, for a small fee, seasonal tires will wait in line in compliance with all scientific and technical rules.

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