Do tires have a recommended lifetime?

During a recent conversation, somebody told me that tires typically have a lifetime, after which the rubber hardens and becomes unsuitable, possibly unsafe to use...

I've had my tires on the Defender which is mainly used for road use for about 5 years, driving about 6,000 miles per year (not much where to drive in Malta ).

The week/year of manufacturing which I found on the tires is 2906. They still have a good amount of thread on them, though there is some wear.

The question is, given that about 7 years have passed from the date of manufacturing, should I change them now, or wait until they wear a bit more?

I think there is a lifetime from when the tyres were manufactured, I've seen some say its 5 years and some say its 3 so not entirely sure. Obviously the usual applies, if the rubbers perished, cracked, dry, treads wearing down etc...then they'll need replaced. But I have also seen it written somewhere, though I think this might just be nonsense, that regardless of condition tyres over 5 years old will fail an mot

Check the condition of the tyres. If a vehicle has been left where the tyres can get hot and cold and deflated it takes a toll on them. Some folk say 5 years, but I have had 10. My last tyres were 7 years and they passed an MOT...is this new this year?

Caravans/trailer are put at 5 years, cars etc I was always told 10...

Caravans etc are shorter because they stand for long periods, apparently tyres need to "exercise" or flex to keep the rubber (ok, I know its not actually rubber) supple hence why used vehicles are longer.

timtheenchanteruk said:

Caravans/trailer are put at 5 years, cars etc I was always told 10...

Caravans etc are shorter because they stand for long periods, apparently tyres need to "exercise" or flex to keep the rubber (ok, I know its not actually rubber) supple hence why used vehicles are longer.

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Does that mean I should be occasionally fitting my spare and taking it for a run?

Mine don't stand much often, they are being worked continuously. They don't have serious tire wear, I think for now they are ok at least, visually they look ok.

However, my point is, despite the tires looking ok in my eyes, would they be actually hard or some other lifetime defect and thus become unsafe to use?

Only recently changed mine (april),

Previous ones where used daily for 10 years, only changed them because they where beginning to perish,

I favor General AT2, not sure how long these ones will last due to changes in EU law, hoping around 5 or more years

Recommended 5 years. Although I have seen some very perished 3 year old tyres and some healthy 7 year old tyres. Recently changed a set on a friends MG midget as they were STARTING to perish, 17 years old!

My TYRES are British and not septic 'tires'

'Tyres' refer to what I put on the corners of me Fender;

'Tires' refers to someone becoming 'tired'!

BTW, I don't have tired tyres!

Just sayin'!

Oldseadog said:

My TYRES are British and not septic 'tires'

'Tyres' refer to what I put on the corners of me Fender;

'Tires' refers to someone becoming 'tired'!

BTW, I don't have tired tyres!

Just sayin'!

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And what brand is that??????????? Probably owned by the Americans

Oldseadog said:

My TYRES are British and not septic 'tires'

'Tyres' refer to what I put on the corners of me Fender;

'Tires' refers to someone becoming 'tired'!

BTW, I don't have tired tyres!

Just sayin'!

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F***ing american influence!!

Great, so there's no real consensus on them actually perishing due to age, it's what you do with them that counts, not their age

Yeah, the septics want to own everything!

The best thing to come from that side of the pond was Concord ... twice a day, coz they couldn't get out fast enough!!

gse1986 said:

Does that mean I should be occasionally fitting my spare and taking it for a run?

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Id say no , caravan/trailers stand all the weight on one side thats why they perish fast. i used tp work in a tyre shop, some as old as 12/13years are still good and some 3 year old tyres are finished it all depends on how they have been treated. Tyre black drys the side walls of them out so try and avoid that! but really depends on mileage and conditions etc