The Danger of Worn Tires

No laws in Arizona or the United States restrict the sale of aged vehicle tires.  A few states have inspection laws, but they only test wear and tear of the tire’s tread.  The life of a tire with regular use is about six years— however, there tire safety goes beyond tread wear and proper inflation.

Even though a used tire retailer may be willing to sell it to you, a “new” old stock tire will typically have dried-out rubber, making it more prone to blow outs and tread separation.  Test data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proves that a tire that is more than six years old has a significantly greater chance of catastrophic tread separation than a newer tire.  Unfortunately, due to the lack of regulations, used tire retailers can and often do sell tires upwards of ten years old—a clear safety hazard.

To determine the age of your tires or any used tire you may be purchasing, look for the DOT code on the sidewall of the tire.  The last four numbers of this code represent the week and year the tire was manufactured.  So, if the last four numbers were 0110, this would mean that the tire was manufactured in the first week of 2010.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured in an accident caused by aged tires, an experienced attorney can assist you with any claims you may have. The Law Offices of Michael Cordova is a personal injury law firm in Phoenix, Arizona with a team of skilled, experienced and talented personal injury attorneys. We have an excellent track record of delivering the compensation our clients deserve. Contact us at 602-265-6700 for a free case evaluation.