Tires speak, and they are aging

Just as we tend to wrinkle and gray as we grow older, tires can show signs of aging. Ozone, ultraviolet light, and heat can affect tire rubber much like they affect our skin. In your monthly checks for tire inflation pressure, take the time to look for signs of aging such as cracking in the sidewall. If you see cracks, perhaps it's time to replace the tires or at least get them to a mechanic for a thorough inspection.   

If you accumulate more years than miles on your tires, you may also want to at least be knowledgeable of the time when a tire was made. The tire's sidewall carries an alphanumeric string of characters following the letters DOT on at least one side. (For more information, read "How to decode tire size and other data.") The last four digits of that code indicate the week and year that the tire was made. "3305," for example, would indicate that a tire was manufactured during the 33rd week of 2005. If you find that the tires are 10-years old or more, it's time to consider replacement. That includes the spare tire, too. Some vehicle manufacturers suggest even earlier than that, typically six years or more. Check your owner's manual for specific tire replacement recommendations.

--Gene Petersen