Do you know what a DOT number is? If not then you’ve arrived at the right address! Continue reading to understand how to determine a tyre’s construction date, how much a tyre typically lasts, and what causes tyres bilston degradation.
When it comes to tyres, how much do they last?
Tyre makers and safety organisations agree that car owners must change their tyres after 5-6 years. The ETRTO reiterates this, stating that tyres can be regarded as good for up to five years from the time of production.
Other reports, on the other hand, claim that a tyre’s maximum life cycle is closer to ten years, irrespective of how much tyre tread is remaining.
Why is there this difference in time between 5 and 10 years?
That is an excellent question.
The reality is that no specialist can effectively anticipate a tyre’s life without first learning everything about how this is utilised daily. For example, if you travel on improperly inflated tyres or subject them to adverse traffic circumstances on a regular basis, the tread will likely wear down faster. Similarly, if you’ve developed any undesirable driver behaviour or your tyres aren’t properly aligned, the tyre lifespan may be shortened.
Other considerations are how well the tyre is kept, how well it is maintained, and the environment in which you drive.
Furthermore, tyres mature as a result of a chemical reaction called oxidation. Whenever the rubber in the elastic regions of the tyre is subjected to air particles, it hardens. Oxidation begins when a tyre is made and continues if it is kept on a rack or used often; yet, it increases at variable rates based on how the tyre is kept.
How to locate and decipher DOT codes on tyres
To the untrained eye, all tyres appear to be the same. However, if you look closely, you’ll notice that every code is stamped with its collection of tyre marks. A DOT symbol is an example of one of these markers. It can be compared to a tyre’s date of birth.
The DOT number is an alphabetic sequence of multiple characters, but you’re just concerned about the last four numbers.
While DOT markings are generally used to monitor tyres in the case of a safety recall, they can also be used to estimate a tyre’s life span, especially if you have misplaced your paperwork. Remember that the life of the tyre begins when it was produced, not when it was installed.
• Although there are several marks on a tyre’s wall, the DOT number, which starts with the initials “DOT,” is one of the simplest to locate.
• The tyre’s manufacturing date is indicated by the last 4 digits, – for example, 4419.
• The very first two numerals represent the week during which the tyre was manufactured. In this case, the answer is 44. This is preceded by the manufacturing year — for instance, 19 denotes 2019. (Before 2000, the date portion of the number only had three digits, however, this was later modified to explain the year wherein the tyre was made.)
The symbols that come before the DOT code are less important, but they can help you to understand how a tyre is made. The two alphabetic letters in the first four characters denote the plant number, or the location wherever the tyre was made. Tyres must be checked at least once a month, with special care devoted to tyres that aren’t used very often. The minimum lifespan of tyres in use is recommended by certain tyre and car manufacturers. This advice should be followed at all times.
A properly managed tyre, for example, will last better, respond faster to steering inputs, and use less fuel. A mistreated tyre, on the other side, may compromise the vehicle’s ability to stop, turn, or manoeuvre.
Is there such a thing as being too old?
As a general guideline, you must consider your tyre’s date of manufacture in combination with its technical quality when determining whether or not it needs to be replaced.
If the tread depth drops below 2 mm yet the tyre is less than five years old, you shouldn’t ignore the need for a replacement. Any considerable reduction in tread depth, and any other mechanical flaws, should be taken more seriously ).
Similarly, even when a tyre appears to be in good condition, it may not be safe to drive on – particularly if it hasn’t been properly kept.
The elements in a tyre aren’t invincible, and they can detach for a variety of causes without causing any visible harm to the outside.
Consequently, this results in a decreased tyre pressure. To be precise, 1-3 pounds every square inch every month. This is referred to as “leakage,” and it occurs as the consequence of air escaping from the tyre wall due to penetration. Although this is totally normal and occurs with time, a tyre’s air level must be monitored frequently to ensure that it does not decrease to a dangerous point.
When it does, the tyre’s contact area will rise, and the tread will wear down faster. This sudden increase in friction might lead a tyre to burst out in severe cases.
Your handbook/manual are the perfect locations to look out for the appropriate air level for your car. The proper loaded pressure may also be imprinted on the car door sill or on inside the car’s petrol cap.
