Aging Tires

Hawaii State Vehicle Safety Inspections require that  tire threads be no shorter than 2/32" at the time of inspection.  Many drivers believe that until threads are near or at this level, their tires are completely safe.  However, this belief is a dangerous misconception.

Most tire manufactures recommend that tires do not be used for more than six years after the manufactured date.  So, if a tire is never actually used and looks new, but is more than six years old, it should not be in use.

"Tires are usually made of rubber (real or synthetic), and all rubber products deteriorate with age, even if they are not actually being used.  So, the spare tires has been deteriorating in the back of your care while it was not in use.  The components of the tire that were once fused together properly can break apart while the vehicle is in motion.  Unfortunately, this can happen while you are driving on that spare tire at highway speeds and result in serious and even fatal accidents.  For safety sake, replace your tires, even your spare, regularly and do not use a tire that you know is old, even if it does not appear to be worn." -- The Jere Beasley Report, December 2009