I was not aware of this before probably because back in the UK my annual milage means that I was unlikely to get as many as 3 years out of tyres as they were just too badly worn. Last year I bought a second hand Altis that has loads of tread on the tyres but is was pointed out to me that the tyres are more than 5 years old. Seriously how big an issue is that? I can only assume who ever had this car before did very few miles in a year or when new tyres were fitted they were near to the 5 year limit.

Have they gone hard or developed small cracks ?

I haven't had a close look but I will check. I am amazed how little tyre wear there is a a 5 year old tyre.

3 hours ago, Samh said:

I haven't had a close look but I will check. I am amazed how little tyre wear there is a a 5 year old tyre.

It's more the heat and sun factor here, not the mileage. If they are becoming too hard you loose grip on the road.

29 minutes ago, UWEB said:

It's more the heat and sun factor here, not the mileage. If they are becoming too hard you loose grip on the road.

Yes I suppose in Thailand that is far more of an issue than the UK.

4 hours ago, Samh said:

Seriously how big an issue is that? 

It can be a big issue. 

 

I had a few large bubbles, causing vibration. 

 

I changed quickly 

Of course, every tire shop will tell you that tires over 5 years old must be changed, pronto! What business model would not dictate that? let you drive and them not making some cheap dough? 

 

ChatGPT and DeepSeek R1 both suggest a nuanced view of the tire life and expiration - chiefly, if you are a highway racer pushing top speed often, replace the tires after 6 years, if you are driving mostly in the city or at lower speeds, 10 years is the more sensible limit.

 

'Conclusion: Balance Safety & Sustainability

If your tires still have good tread, no deep cracks, and retain grip, you can safely use them beyond the recommended replacement age, especially for city driving. Just perform regular checks and listen to your car’s handling—it will tell you when the rubber is no longer safe.'

On 2/13/2025 at 2:38 PM, Ralf001 said:

Have they gone hard or developed small cracks ?

Took a close look and no signs of any cracks, no damage on the outside at least. He just pointed out that the manufacturing code indicated 5 years old.

If you can see "crepe-ing" on the side walls, they're done.

I had to replace my Pirelli's at 42k kms and 2 years because 2 of the tires had small cracks on the inside sidewalls. One of the tires developed a slow leak and I immediately brought the car to B-Quik because it was next to the shopping mall we were going to. B-Quik could not find the problem until they removed all the tires and they then spotted small cracks in 2 of them.

 

I would have expected better from 17.5k baht price per tire. I replaced all 4 with Michelins extra heavy duty and I assume they'll perform better.

19 minutes ago, FarangRimPing said:

I had to replace my Pirelli's at 42k kms and 2 years because 2 of the tires had small cracks on the inside sidewalls. One of the tires developed a slow leak and I immediately brought the car to B-Quik because it was next to the shopping mall we were going to. B-Quik could not find the problem until they removed all the tires and they then spotted small cracks in 2 of them.

 

I would have expected better from 17.5k baht price per tire. I replaced all 4 with Michelins extra heavy duty and I assume they'll perform better.

Made from Gold?

Check the side-walls.  In the sun and heat the rubber begins to break down.  If you have a side-wall blow-out you can be in for a world of hurt. 

1 hour ago, UWEB said:

Made from Gold?

Noblesse oblige. It's for a G-class Benz🤗

On 2/14/2025 at 5:55 AM, mistral53 said:

Of course, every tire shop will tell you that tires over 5 years old must be changed, pronto! What business model would not dictate that? let you drive and them not making some cheap dough? 

 

ChatGPT and DeepSeek R1 both suggest a nuanced view of the tire life and expiration - chiefly, if you are a highway racer pushing top speed often, replace the tires after 6 years, if you are driving mostly in the city or at lower speeds, 10 years is the more sensible limit.

 

'Conclusion: Balance Safety & Sustainability

If your tires still have good tread, no deep cracks, and retain grip, you can safely use them beyond the recommended replacement age, especially for city driving. Just perform regular checks and listen to your car’s handling—it will tell you when the rubber is no longer safe.'

That is comical. So now people are going to become tire experts and evaluate their own tires? 

On 2/13/2025 at 7:01 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

It can be a big issue. 

 

I had a few large bubbles, causing vibration. 

 

I changed quickly 

Not a big issue unless you attend circuit sessions. 

21 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

On 2/13/2025 at 7:01 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

It can be a big issue. 

 

I had a few large bubbles, causing vibration. 

 

I changed quickly 

Not a big issue unless you attend circuit sessions

Makes for a bumpy ride. 

 

You don't want to be travelling at speed and have a bubble burst 

 

 

I always use that side dressing on the tire sides and my last tires here they were eight or nine years old and the thread was just starting to go so I decided to go buy new ones but it just depends on how you drive and how you maintain them when the tires are cold I put an extra 2 pounds in each tire and they seem to last longer like it says to put in 35 pounds of air Psi I’ll put in 37 and the tires seem to last longer 

29 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

I always use that side dressing on the tire sides and my last tires here they were eight or nine years old and the thread was just starting to go so I decided to go buy new ones but it just depends on how you drive and how you maintain them when the tires are cold I put an extra 2 pounds in each tire and they seem to last longer like it says to put in 35 pounds of air Psi I’ll put in 37 and the tires seem to last longer 

I pretty much do the same, and have done so for the last 50+ years both here and in my home country. Recommended pressure of 32psi, I always run at 34. Current set of tyres are 3 years old and only 37k kms on them. Still plenty of tread. For me, I think the reason for them still being in pretty good shape is twofold: #1. I only average around 12.5k kms per year & #2. I rotate the tyres every 6 months. First rotation is rear to front and vice versa. & 2nd rotation is cross rotate. Driver front to passenger rear and passenger front to driver rear. The rotation spreads the wear and tear on the tyres rather than having the wear in the one spot on each tyre which would be the result of not rotating them.

On 2/15/2025 at 6:46 PM, Sandboxer said:

If you can see "crepe-ing" on the side walls, they're done.

 

what is that ?

 

google offers no hits.

On 2/13/2025 at 2:37 PM, Samh said:

I was not aware of this before probably because back in the UK my annual milage means that I was unlikely to get as many as 3 years out of tyres as they were just too badly worn. Last year I bought a second hand Altis that has loads of tread on the tyres but is was pointed out to me that the tyres are more than 5 years old. Seriously how big an issue is that? I can only assume who ever had this car before did very few miles in a year or when new tyres were fitted they were near to the 5 year limit.

I used to work for the UK's largest tyre distributor.

You say that you have been told that the tyres are 'more than' five years old.  I'd be interested in knowing their age.

Tyre age can be determined by the DOT (US Department of Transport) code printed on the side of the tyres.  This states the month and year of manufacture.

How the DOT Code Works:

The last four digits of the DOT code represent the week and year the tyre was manufactured. Here's how to decode it:

• The first two digits represent the week of the year (from 01 to 52).
• The last two digits represent the year the tyre was manufactured.

For example, if the last four digits of the DOT code are 2518, it means the tyre was manufactured in the 25th week of 2018.

Example of a DOT Code:

• DOT B3YZ ABCD 2518
  • 2518 means the tyre was made in week 25 of the year 2018.

 

There is no set age at which tyres should be replaced.  Most get replaced when insufficent tread remains but that isn't the case for you.  Typically, tyres of more than eight years are probably best replaced due to ageing of the rubber compounds but it depends on how the vehicle has been used, stored, etc.  Ultra violet light in Thailand is likely to degrade the sidewalls faster due to its strength here.  As has already been pointed out, this is visible by small cracks forming.  Blisters, cuts or any other abnormal indications would be compelling reasons for replacement in older tyres.

So, how old are your tyres?

 

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

Ultra violet light in Thailand is likely to degrade the sidewalls faster due to its strength here.  As has already been pointed out, this is visible by small cracks forming.

Just for completeness, the small cracks in the sidewalls that have been mentioned are caused because old rubber oxidises (caused by heat, air contaminants but mostly from UV), resulting in shrinkage because the rubber has dried out.  This affects the tyre's structural integrity so replacment is imperative.

Rubber in tyres contains natural oils.  Sidewall dressings are available which make the tyre look blacker and cleaner but also contain oils to help rejuvenate the rubber.  Personally, I just apply some silicone oil occasionally to feed the rubber.  And I keep my cars and motorbikes parked out of direct sun at home.

 

I bought a new Car 12 years ago; it still has less than 30000 Klicks on the clock and lives mainly under cover.  I check the Tyres regularly and last year i started finding cracks on the top curves of the outer walls even though the Tyres are less than half worn, so i had new Tyres fitted minus the spare which is unused and perfect.

 

Funny thing was the Tyre Shop Manager told me they would be selling my old Tyres as part -worns with no guarantee.  Apparently there are plenty of Thai takers for such Tyres.

I replaced the (Bridgestone) tires on my GF's car at 5 years.  The tires actually still had good tread, and I originally questions the replacement but after the tires were off and a closer inspection, I could see very small cracks between the treads.  These tires are probably just fine if you are only going to drive around town at 1-40 km/hours, but I certainly wouldn't trust them up on the freeway at high speed and getting hot.

4 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

I bought a new Car 12 years ago; it still has less than 30000 Klicks on the clock and lives mainly under cover.  I check the Tyres regularly and last year i started finding cracks on the top curves of the outer walls even though the Tyres are less than half worn, so i had new Tyres fitted minus the spare which is unused and perfect.

 

Funny thing was the Tyre Shop Manager told me they would be selling my old Tyres as part -worns with no guarantee.  Apparently there are plenty of Thai takers for such Tyres.

Close to my Home there is an old House where they collecting such Tires, but they get exported to Myanmar, Lao or Cambodia.

The date is the manufacturer date, it doesn’t mean to say they are unsafe after 5 years, my car just passed mandatory 7 year test and there was no mention of my tyres which are more than 5 years old.

Maybe previous owner put second hand tyres on. As far as age is concerned the quality of tyres deteriorate with age. As pointed out by others the rate of degradation other than wear include material quality and storage (heat and sunlight). At low speed city driving you may be fine but at higher speeds, bumpy roads or emergency hard braking to avoid a collision you’ll be taking greater risks with the older tyre which include blow outs, poorer grips and stopping a little later. 

On 2/17/2025 at 4:23 PM, Jumbo1968 said:

The date is the manufacturer date, it doesn’t mean to say they are unsafe after 5 years, my car just passed mandatory 7 year test and there was no mention of my tyres which are more than 5 years old.

Don't you know that these places employ the blind ?     They must do as the amount of junk that gets through wouldn't pass !

On 2/17/2025 at 11:38 AM, IsaanT said:

Just for completeness, the small cracks in the sidewalls that have been mentioned are caused because old rubber oxidises (caused by heat, air contaminants but mostly from UV), resulting in shrinkage because the rubber has dried out.  This affects the tyre's structural integrity so replacment is imperative.

Rubber in tyres contains natural oils.  Sidewall dressings are available which make the tyre look blacker and cleaner but also contain oils to help rejuvenate the rubber.  Personally, I just apply some silicone oil occasionally to feed the rubber.  And I keep my cars and motorbikes parked out of direct sun at home.

 

Rubber products in general age here, including glue: shoes etc fall apart whilst looking brand new. I find that anything with a rubber coating or made of rubber here degrades even when kept in a bag, but in a non-air-conditioned place. It is the humidity which sucks out the rubberising chemicals, resulting in a white powdery deposit. Regarding tyres I have some Michelins on a CRV which are just over 5 years old - 5220 code. They're only half worn but there are small cracks appearing between the treads and they are a little noisy. This may to some not be a reason to splash out on new ones but I have changed tyres at this age before and have noticed a huge difference in grip and comfort in the past, so probably will bite the bullet and change them.

35 minutes ago, Katatonica said:

Rubber products in general age here, including glue: shoes etc fall apart whilst looking brand new. I find that anything with a rubber coating or made of rubber here degrades even when kept in a bag, but in a non-air-conditioned place. It is the humidity which sucks out the rubberising chemicals, resulting in a white powdery deposit. Regarding tyres I have some Michelins on a CRV which are just over 5 years old - 5220 code. They're only half worn but there are small cracks appearing between the treads and they are a little noisy. This may to some not be a reason to splash out on new ones but I have changed tyres at this age before and have noticed a huge difference in grip and comfort in the past, so probably will bite the bullet and change them.

I recently changed the tires on my Suzuki Swift after 12 years of being on the car, mind you, it had only done about 45,000 km since new and the tires still looked in good condition, but I changed them to be "on the safe side" as the saying goes.

I change every three years or so …Google stopping distance as tyres age…I hope none of you ever have to say …if only I had stopped one meter sooner ……