Aged Tires: A Driving Hazard
Published On: June 8, 2008
ABC News investigated the dangers of expired tires. A tire failure can result when the tread peels off of a tire. Tires can sit on the retailer’s shelf for years and still be sold as new. Research shows that even if a tire has never been driven a mile, they begin to dry out while they sit on the shelf. After 6 years of age, they can become dangerous.
When a car is traveling at highway speed and the tread comes off, the car violently swerves and weaves.
The tires may have plenty of tread depth but, if the tire is old, its dried out condition may be a hidden danger.
ABC has done an extensive undercover investigation. Watch the video here.
Related Links
- Tire Aging, An In Depth Article (Tirerack.com)
- Safety Research & Strategies (SRS; several articles relating to horrific dangers of aging tires)
- Tire Manufacturers Ask Feds for (Tire) Age Standard (Consumeraffairs.com)
- Aging Tire Lawsuits Gain Traction Nationwide (bnet)
- Landmark Case Decision: Ford Motors Pays $29 Million in Aging Tire Disaster Case(The Auto Channel)
- Tire Aging and Decoding The Age of Your Tire (Didier Law Firm)