At what age should tyres be replaced?

Guidelines for replacing tyres based on age

Industry guidelines specify that tyres should be replaced after ten years at most, regardless of tread depth.

Recommended replacement

Most tyre manufacturers and safety organisations recommend replacing tyres every 5 to 6 years, regardless of tread depth, as the quality of the rubber will deteriorate even in storage.

Maximum Age

There is also an absolute maximum age recommended for any tyres, which is 10 years from the date of manufacture. Failure is not always visible, meaning the tyres may look fine, but the risk of a tyre failing increases significantly.

Checking the age

To look up a tyre's age, check the DOT code on the tyre's sidewall. The last four digits correspond to the week and year it was constructed. 1524, for example, means the tyre was manufactured in week 15 of 2024. You should expect the new tyres you buy to be from a recent stock. If you are concerned about the age of new tyres, be sure to check the DOT code when you receive them.