The tire is the only part of the vehicle in contact with the road, so its state is sufficient to determine the vehicle's handling limit and even driving safety. As we all know, when the tire reaches the wear limit or the sidewall bulge, the tire must be replaced in time. But if the tire is not abnormal, can it be used forever?

Why do tires age?

In order to explore how many years car tires can last, we need to understand why tires age. As we all know, tires are made of high molecular polymers, and their molecular structure will change with gradual oxidation, which is the main reason for tire aging. Although the factory uses special antioxidants in the tire formulations, they can only slow down the oxidation process and cannot cure the cause......

Tire expo reminds you that the impact of high temperature on tires is not small. On the one hand, high temperatures will accelerate the tire oxidation process; on the other hand, as the temperature rises, the texture of the tire will become softer, making it easier to wear. According to research, when the tire temperature rises from 0 degrees to 100 degrees, its rubber strength and internal cord adsorption will drop by about 50%.

It is worth mentioning that ultraviolet rays can also cause rubber molecular chains to break. Tires that are often exposed to the sun will have cracks on their surface, which is why tires generally have a shorter life in sunny areas.

The hazards of tire aging

The most direct impact of tire aging is the decline in grip, which creates many safety hazards. According to the US Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, 84% of tires caused by traffic accidents have been used for more than 6 years. Remember the Porsche Carrera GT that killed Paul Walker? The car’s tires have not been changed since it left the factory, and the gestational age has reached 9 years.

How many years can tires last?

Obviously, in order to prevent the aging of tires from causing safety hazards to driving, car owners still need to replace tires regularly. For example, Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and other car companies remind consumers: After 6 years, they must replace their tires. Although tire manufacturers such as Michelin and Continental say their tires can last for 10 years, they also inform consumers that they must conduct tire inspections every year starting from the sixth year.

Tire Expo

How to extend tire life? The Auto Wheel Trade Show believes:

Although tire aging is an unsolvable problem, we can still extend the life of tires as much as possible through good vehicle habits.

Gentle driving

Gentle driving is the most direct and effective way to save tires. If you often use floor oil and heavy brakes, and always "split" on the ramp...The life of the tires must not belong.

Don't overload

When a vehicle is overloaded, the pressure on the tires will increase, and if the tires are overloaded for a long time, their life will inevitably be shortened. According to investigations, when tires work under 120% load for a long time, their life will be reduced by 30%.

In family cars, although the phenomenon of overloading is common, most of them are short distances to make a living. In addition, people's weight is limited, so the impact on tires is not so great. Of course, we still have to reiterate that overloading is illegal!

But trucks are different. Because truck overloads are calculated in tons, and the overload phenomenon is basically normal, the life of truck tires is generally short. If the truck driver neglects to replace the tires in order to save costs, and greed for profit to overload when pulling goods, it is like a time bomb, sooner or later, something will happen!

Pay attention to tire pressure

It is also a good habit to always pay attention to vehicle tire pressure. Many people reduce tire pressure when participating in track days to improve tire grip. However, low tire pressure will increase the burden on the sidewall and accelerate the aging of the inner ply of the tire. According to Michelin's research, when the tire pressure is lower than 20% of the normal value for a long time, its life will be reduced by 20%.

Of course, the tire pressure is too high. High tire pressure will cause tire elasticity to decrease, which will not only reduce tire life but also when driving through potholes or passing speed bumps, it will also affect the driving quality and suspension life due to reduced shock absorption.

Regularly check the four-wheel alignment

As the number of kilometers traveled by a vehicle gradually increases, its suspension geometry will change more or less.

If you usually drive a lot of bad roads, or the wheels have collided, the four-wheel alignment value must be far from the original state, and the tires will wear out over time. Therefore, regular inspection of the four-wheel alignment of the wheels can stop the damage in time when the eccentric wear of the tires is not serious.