Tyres are just about the most important part of your car. If they're in bad shape, the car's ability to accelerate, stop, and turn in all conditions is greatly compromised. Everybody knows to replace tyres when the tread gets down to the wear bar, but what about when they get too old?

The rubber in tyres deteriorates over time due to UltraViolet and environmental exposure. The resulting "dry rot" leaves tyre structure brittle and leads to sidewall damage and eventual failure. This isn't "Oh I'll just pump it up and drive on it." No, this is complete loss of function.

As a precaution, the Department of Transportation recommends changing even new-looking tyres once they hit 10 years old, and many manufacturers recommend swapping them out at six years old. Of course, this aging is highly dependent on where the tyres 'live' or are used. Tyres in hotter climates like ours in Nigeria have much shorter lives than those in moderate, moist or cold climates, hence the the 4 year tyre expiry life span that exists in Nigeria.

Since tyres can sit in a warehouse for years before getting to the retail stores, you'll want to know when the tyres were made, rather than purchased, and there's an easy way to tell. Every tyre has a "birthday", manufacture date, molded into the sidewall and coded according to federal requirements. Near the edge of the rim, look for a long serial number starting with the letters "DOT." The code will end in four numerals and correspond to the two-digit week followed by the two-digit year. For instance, the tyre seen in the picture has a code of DOT DA08 JM1R 3011, which would indicate a tyre manufactured in the 30th week of 2011. If we follow the 4 year life span rule, it means this tyre expires by the year 2015. DOT R5HG FHR 4017 would indicate a tyre manufactured in the 40th week of 2017.

Taking into consideration the 4 year life span in use in Nigeria, it is wise to expect that some road safety officers could stop you for expired tyres if your tyres have a DOT earlier than 2013. If you find that your "new" tyres you are about to purchase are more than two years old, feel free to request a newer manufacture date or a discount from the salesman. The customer is always right, after all.

In case you were curious about other elements of the code, "DOT" means the tyre has passed the Department of Transportation's testing requirements. The next two digits are the tyre plant code, followed by a two-digit tyre size code, and then a four-digit manufacture's code. Now, your neighbors will look at you funny when they catch you staring at your tyres.

This is informative. Mod straight to FP

ayodelelucky:
This is informative. Mod straight to FP

Thank you Sir. We are at your service.