How to avoid hidden hazard when buying new tires

Here’s important information on how to avoid a hidden hazard when you buy new tires, and how to make sure the tires on your car are still safe to use.

• When it comes to deciding whether a tire is safe to use, we tend to look at whether the tread is worn.  If a tire still has tread, we think it's okay.  And we assume that a new tire, with full tread, has got to be safe.
• However, there's another danger that cannot be seen, but which can be deadly:  tires deteriorate with age, even if they have never or seldom been used.  Over time, the rubber in the tire tread loses its elasticity and becomes hard and brittle.  These tires are dangerous even if the tread is still fine.
• Generally speaking, vehicle manufacturers recommend that tires not be used beyond six years after the date of manufacture, regardless of use.
• The research firm Safety Research and Strategies ("SRS") claims that there have been 159 accidents nationwide in which tires older than six years experienced tread/belt separations - - most resulting in out-of-control crashes.  According to SRS, these accidents were the cause of 128 fatalities and 168 injuries.
• A recent report on "20/20" highlighted this problem - - and shockingly, described a case in which newly-purchased tires blew out and caused a fatal accident.  It turned out that even though the tires were "brand new" - - that is, they had never been used - - they were several years old.
• To see whether tires being sold in Westchester are "aged" or "new," inspectors from the Department of Consumer Protection recently checked the inventory at ten major tire retailers in Westchester. We also checked several gasoline and service stations.  The object was to see whether old tires - - especially those which are six or more years old, but also tires that are approaching that age - - are being sold to consumers.
• The good news is that the vast majority of tires were found to be manufactured in 2008, with most of the others manufactured in 2007.  Of hundreds of tires that were checked, only a handful were found that were manufactured in 2006 and 2005, and no tires were found that were manufactured before then.
• That said, it's still a good idea for consumers to check the manufacture date before they buy new tires - - the newer the better, so the tires will have a longer useable life.
• The problem is that the date is printed on one side of the tire, in a coded fashion that is difficult for the average consumer to decipher, and is frequently facing inside when the tire is mounted.
• Starting in September 2009 tire manufacturers will be required to print the tire's manufacture date in an easy-to-read, four-digit code on the outside of the tire.  In meantime, if you can't see or figure out the code, ASK before you buy.

Other advice:

• Avoid buying tires that are six or more years old (or approaching that age).
• If your car is several years old, check the age of the tires - - they may need replacement even if the tread is still good.
• If your car is several years old, a spare tire, even if unused, can pose a hazard if put into use - -don't use an "old" spare as a permanent replacement tire.
• Be especially vigilant when purchasing tires online, as it's harder to know the manufacture date when you don't have the opportunity to look at the tires before you make a purchase.  If the website does not disclose a tire's manufacture date (and several that we checked do not), call the company's toll-free number to inquire before you make a purchase.
• When purchasing a used car, check the date of the tires regardless of how much tread may be left on them; just because a tire has tread doesn't mean it's safe.