Age of Tires: Safety Concern?

I recently checked my tread depth on my tires using the coin test and to my chagrin learned that I need to purchase new tires again. The Fuzion ZRi’s that I purchased in early 2008 for my WRX lasted just 2 years (i should’ve heeded the one review that warned about the tread life). This time around I’m shopping for all-season tires instead of summer tires.

Most consumers aren’t aware that the age or shelf-life of the tires matter. Tires six years old (from when it was manufactured) and older supposedly have a greater chance of the tread pealing off, which can lead to accidents, as detailed in this 20/20 news segment. Tire manufacturers do not list expiration dates on the tires, but you can tell the age of the tires from reading the cryptic codes on the tires.

Assuming there is some validity to this, how should you shop for tires? First, do your research online by reading consumer reviews, test results, and shop around for prices. If you prefer to buy at a tire shop, before you purchase make sure to check the age of the tires.

Purchasing tires online could save you a lot, but also could be tricky since there’s no way to tell the age of the tires that will be shipped to you. Your best bet is to buy a newer model tire (e.g., google “new tire product launch”) and note the product launch date. If the product launch date was less than two years ago and assuming that I’ll keep the tires for 3-4 years, it’d be a tire that I’d consider purchasing.