As tires age, chemical changes reduce their durability, increasing the need for an experienced
tire defect attorney
. These chemical changes are commonly referred to as oxidation, which simply means that as the tire components are exposed to oxygen, the oxygen particles cause the flexible components of a tire to harden and become brittle. Over time, the tire will simply fall apart under normal stress, just like an old rubber band. Because this process occurs naturally, it does not matter if a tire is being used, stored as a spare, or simply waiting on a store shelf for an unsuspecting consumer. In 1973, the average tread life of a passenger car tire was approximately 24,000 miles. This number has quadrupled over the last forty years and some currently sold tires promise 100,000 miles of tread life. As tread life becomes less of a factor in the service life of a tire, oxidation becomes a more serious concern— particularly in hotter climates, like Georgia, which is routinely the fifth hottest state in the United States.
Tire aging is a “hidden hazard” because it is impossible to tell how old a tire is without deciphering an 11+ digit code that is imprinted on the side of the tire. The guide on the opposite page demonstrates how to interpret this code. As you can imagine, most consumers either do not know that this code exists or do not understand its significance.
A large body of scientific evidence supports that most tires should be replaced six years from the date they are manufactured. This six-year expiration date begins from the day the tire was manufactured at the plant—not the date it was sold to a consumer or the date that it was installed on a vehicle. Tire manufacturers are well aware of this expiration date, but have refused to help consumers identify aged tires. In contrast, many auto manufacturers have taken small steps to warn consumers by placing warnings within the owner’s manual of newer model vehicles. However, these warnings fail to convey the gravity of the risk to consumers and do nothing to warn owners of older model vehicles,that’s why is so important to work with a
tire failure accident lawyer
.
In addition, due to the cryptic code tire manufacturers use on tires, the warnings are of only limited use to consumers. The failure to provide an adequate warning of the dangers of tire aging places innocent lives at risk.