When Tires Expire in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
Tires do not carry a printed expiration date, but many tire and vehicle makers recommend replacing them somewhere between six and ten years old, however much tread is left.
Many also recommend a yearly inspection once a tire is about five years old. The rubber ages and weakens even while the tread still looks deep. It is the camper that sat behind the machine shed all winter and heads out in June with tread like new and sidewalls full of tiny cracks. Trailers, farm trucks and spare tires are the usual suspects, so bring it in, or we will come and get it, and we will read the date for you in a minute.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
We answer texts the same day we get them.
Old tires, decoded
Tap the ones that sound like yours.
You ticked 0. That is worth a look.
Text us which onesHow to tell your tire age from the sidewall
Find the date code, and the rest is easy. Look for the letters DOT on the sidewall, followed by a string of letters and numbers. The last four digits are the date the tire was made, with the week first and the year second, so 1420 means the 14th week of 2020. Some tires only print it on one side, so check the other side if you do not see it.
Age works on the rubber even when nobody drives. Sunlight, heat, ozone in the air and time all break down the oils that keep rubber flexible. As a tire ages it gets harder and more brittle, grips less on wet roads, and becomes more likely to crack or have the tread separate, and Kansas summers speed that up for vehicles parked outside.
The tires that sit are the ones to watch. Oddly, tires that are driven often usually age better than tires that sit, which is why trailers, campers, farm trucks and spares tend to have plenty of tread and dangerously old rubber at the same time.
Follow the owner's manual first. If it gives a specific age recommendation, use that. If it does not, a yearly inspection from about five years old is a sensible habit, and we are happy to do it whenever you are in.
Why Hillsboro has Moxie check its tire age
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We check the date on every tire
We read the date code and look for cracking, so you know how old your tires really are.
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No pressure to buy
If your tires are old but still sound, we will say so, and you approve any work before we do it.
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Trailers and campers welcome
Bring the tires that sit most, because those are the ones most likely to be past their best.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Tire age myths we hear at the counter
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What ages tires around here
- Long, hot Kansas summers with a lot of sun on vehicles parked outside
- Trailers, campers and farm trucks that sit for months between uses
- Ozone in the air and plain time, which break down the oils in the rubber
- Spare tires that ride along for years without ever touching the road
Tire age across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Tire age questions we hear every week
Do tires expire if they have never been used?
Unused tires still age, because the rubber breaks down from time, heat and air, not only from driving. A tire that sat in a garage or on the back of a truck for years can be weaker than it looks. That is why an old spare, or a tire bought years ago and never mounted, should be checked before you rely on it.
How many years do tires last?
Most tires wear out from tread loss long before age becomes the problem, often within three to six years for an everyday driver. Many manufacturers recommend inspecting tires yearly from about five years old and replacing them between six and ten years old, whatever the tread looks like. Your owner's manual may give a specific number.
Is it safe to drive on tires with small cracks in the sidewall?
Very fine surface cracks are usually safe to drive on for a while. Deep cracks, cracks you can fit a fingernail into, or cracks with a bulge nearby mean the tire should be replaced soon. Cracking means the rubber is breaking down, and it only gets worse. Text us a close-up photo and we will tell you which kind you have.