An increase in the number of cars with old tyres identified at recent police roadside tyre checks has led the Tyre Industry Council to issue a warning to motorists of the potential dangers of running a car or van on over age tyres.

TIC tyre experts at roadside tyre checks in Hertfordshire and Wiltshire identified a number of vehicles with tyres between 10 and 12 years old and one car with tyres that were 15 years old.

Whilst this is not illegal, says the TIC, there are certain circumstances where the `ageing’ process can render a tyre unserviceable even if it is unused.
As the components within the tyre dry out with age, they can separate, causing the tyre to distort and vibrate and potentially the tyre could fail and deflate.

Motorists are able to check the age of a tyre by examining the date code on the sidewall of the tyre. If it is 10 years old or over the TIC strongly recommends that it be replaced.

The TIC that although tyre manufacturers add anti-ageing chemicals to compounds they are only active when the tyre is in use; therefore tyres fitted to spare wheels, caravans and trailers are particularly at risk of premature ageing bought on by ozone degradation and static `sitting’ for lengthy periods. Hence if an unused tyre reaches six years old it should not be placed into service.