Tire Industry Fighting Tire Expiration Date.

[Sayjac]

Tire Industry Fights Tire Expiration Date

Tire industry trade group, Rubber Manufacturers of America, is fighting a proposal that would make mandatory tire expiration, six years seems to be the length proposed. The RMA is the group that has the diagram recommendation showing the repairable area of a tire for safety, so interesting they oppose a tire expiration date. Note that Michelin is mentioned with a 10 year recommendation, but that's a long way from six years.

Imo for those that frequent Bitog, mandatory tire expiration is not needed. Unfortunately general public not all as savvy or responsible regarding tire life as the average Bitoger.

Thoughts.

 

[lubedude13]

6 years I do not agree with. 8-10 years Yes

 

[Corvette Owner]

Storage conditions (of the car) make a huge difference. Exposure to sunlight and ozone are major aging factors. Garage storage certainly helps.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Tire Industry Fights Tire Expiration Date

Tire industry trade group, Rubber Manufacturers of America, is fighting a proposal that would make mandatory tire expiration, six years seems to be the length proposed. The RMA is the group that has the diagram recommendation showing the repairable area of a tire for safety, so interesting they oppose a tire expiration date. Note that Michelin is mentioned with a 10 year recommendation, but that's a long way from six years.

Imo for those that frequent Bitog, mandatory tire expiration is not needed. Unfortunately general public not all as savvy or responsible regarding tire life as the average Bitoger.

Thoughts.


Here's the problem as I see it.

Heat is a big factor when it comes to rubber aging. But the heat history of a tire in Phoenix is much different than a tire in Minneapolis. So if 6 years is a good number in Phoenix, it is too soon for Minneapolis - which would be more like 10 years. Unfortunately, climate boundaries don't match up well to states boundaries. California is a good example.

But if an expiration date were to be put on a tire, what date would you use?

The idea of each state having a different regulation is not something that is opposed by the tire manufacturers as much as having an expiration date different for each state. This would really complicate the distribution of tires within the US. Besides, there is a date code on every tire and that could be referenced by the individual states. Yes, it's not as convenient and obvious as an expiration date, but its already there and in use.

The second factor is that the way a tire is treated has a profound affect. Neglected tires have a reduced life compared to one that is properly maintained. How is an expiration date going to work unless many tires are removed unnecessarily early?

Some time back, the RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) did a very extensive survey of tires being scrapped. They could not find a correlation between the age of the tire and its locale.

And as has been pointed out. Those in the know understand the importance of age, but the general public has strongly resisted removing tires early. We've seen a lot of threads on BITOG about tire age and it is clear that the average guy doesn't want to be told his tires are too old. Supporting a regulation to remove tires early sounds politically self serving for the tire manufacturers - and that is how this is perceived by the general public.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Yes - because if it's 6 years, they can sell more tires.

 

[ronbo]

Years ago had a 10 year old Camry in New York State. One day I put the spare that was never used on the vehicle. I went on the Thruway and the sidewall of the tire developed a hole. Was it the age of the tire or the initial high Thruway speed, I though?

Lot's of tires sit on dealers shelves for years before being sold. That's why I like to buy from online retailers. I feel that they have fresher tires. The last set of snow tires I got were one month old.

 

[mrsilv04]

I have a set of Michelin LTX's, production date of the 32nd week of 2007, which have been white-knuckle experience in the snow and rain for over a half year now, even with 6/32" of tread.

As far as a safety margin, these were shot when they hit the 6 year mark at 3213. This vehicle is stored in the garage.

I guess I'm not the ideal Michelin customer, I don't put enough miles on this vehicle in a short enough of a time frame. The tires are exhibiting issues due to the age of the rubber, before they're close to being worn out.

My next set of tires will be something that is a bit less expensive than $200 a tire, and I'll simply replace them as soon as I see a drop in wet traction... which is what I should have done with this set, rather than looking at the 6/32" of tread that was remaining.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: ronbo
Years ago had a 10 year old Camry in New York State. One day I put the spare that was never used on the vehicle. I went on the Thruway and the sidewall of the tire developed a hole. Was it the age of the tire or the initial high Thruway speed, I though?

Lot's of tires sit on dealers shelves for years before being sold. That's why I like to buy from online retailers. I feel that they have fresher tires. The last set of snow tires I got were one month old.


I just replaced two of my winter tires (winterforce) last fall. The two Winterforce tires I got were two years old - just as old as the two I replaced.

Interestingly enough, the Lifeline GLS tires I put on the Focus were made in 2013 .... but 4 different weeks.

The two replacement lifeliner GLS tires (two got slasheD) are from tires-easy which have a reputation for selling old tires. Hopefully no issues with them being super old.

 

[bubbatime]

Another dynamic. Vehicles that travel on the interstate 70-80 mph should have newer tires. A pickup truck parked on the side of the house that does dump runs, around town and Home Depot trips at no more than 40-45 mph can have 10-12 year old tires no problem in my opinion.

 

[UNC017]

For once: GOOD FOR THE TIRE INDUSTRY!

You'd think they'd be all over this since it would force more tires to be sold, but it also nullifies all the innovation they might do to stabilize rubber compounds and extend tire life. A blanket "expiration date" on all tires can be described by one word: stoopid.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Yes - because if it's 6 years, they can sell more tires.


Umm..the industry trade group is fighting the proposal? How does that fit into your theory?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: JOD
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Yes - because if it's 6 years, they can sell more tires.




Umm..the industry trade group is fighting the proposal? How does that fit into your theory?


I didn't phrase my response well.

The auto manufacturers want you to come to their dealer and buy tires. Firestone auto care (not firestone tire) wants you to buy new tires from them.


I did force my father to buy new (used) tires for his rarely used pickup. It has the original tires on ... in 2012. It's a 2001.

 

[djb]

There is a good reason for fighting the regulation: if there is expiration date, consumers will reject all but the freshest tires.

Today the factory recommendation is that tires are safe X years from the in-service date. That lets them sell three or four year old tires with no consumer push-back or discount.

 

[Sayjac]

Some mention the tire industry might want this as it would lead to more tire sales. But as the poster above pointed out for something like Michelin (and others) with long treadwear warranties, it could lead to consumers considering less expensive tires rather than longer treadwear. Double edge sword.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer


Here's the problem as I see it.

Heat is a big factor when it comes to rubber aging. But the heat history of a tire in Phoenix is much different than a tire in Minneapolis. So if 6 years is a good number in Phoenix, it is too soon for Minneapolis - which would be more like 10 years. Unfortunately, climate boundaries don't match up well to states boundaries. California is a good example.

But if an expiration date were to be put on a tire, what date would you use?

The idea of each state having a different regulation is not something that is opposed by the tire manufacturers as much as having an expiration date different for each state. This would really complicate the distribution of tires within the US. Besides, there is a date code on every tire and that could be referenced by the individual states. Yes, it's not as convenient and obvious as an expiration date, but its already there and in use.



Dumb question: I had a set of tires which had numbers engraved into the tread. I want to say at first I could read 8, 7, 6, etc; and at the end only the 2 or 3 was remaining. Showed mm's tread left. As the tread wore down, it was obvious. A little overkill, given how one could just measure the tread, but then again, it didn't require any thought.

In a similar fashion, could they put some rubber dots/inserts/mold something on the sidewall that could show age? Maybe less UV-stable than the rubber used in the tread. Basically, something that would age at a faster rate than the rest of the tire, so as to give indication of problems. The dot could just crack, or fall off, or whatever simple/easy indication would work.

No, I don't know much about tires, don't know about different rubber compounds in the sidewall, etc. Just a random thought.

 

[friendly_jacek]

They should put easy to read (non-coded) manufacturing date on BOTH sides of tire and the car manuals should stress importance of tire age/inspection etc.

"Discard after XXXX" is too simplistic for tires.

 

[IndyIan]

I assume the durometer reading changes with tire aging/hardening?
So would a large increase in hardness(compared to the new tire value) would be a good predictor of potential problems?
So say an increase of 20% would indicate that the tire is done.

Who would do the testing and when is another question though.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Another solution in search of a problem. Bureaucracy run amok..

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: Oldmoparguy1
Another solution in search of a problem. Bureaucracy run amok..


Actually, this has nothing to do with government bureaucracy. It has to do with the legislature introducing a bill on the subject.

But there really is a problem here. Tires age and many people feel that there should be some way to get dangerously old tires off vehicles before they kill someone - and because the average person isn't generally tuned in to what is involved, some feel the best approach is a regulation.

Crafting a good regulation takes some skill and some compromise.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Stupid...just more nanny state idiocy. I have seen 15 year old tires I'd run in a second, I have seen 4 year old tires so deteriorated they leaked air! Solution looking for a problem.