You Need to Know the Expiration Date of Your Spare Tire (and Where to Find It)
Spare tires are the kind of thing you forget about until you need them. But this is not the safest approach.
Believe it or not, spare tires have an expiration date and require regular maintenance. In other words, if you want your computer to be ready to go when you need it, you’ll have to put in some effort. Here’s what you need to know.
How long do spare tires last?
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) , the life of a spare tire depends on several different factors, but in general, full-size replacement parts are rated for seven to ten years.
Don’t know when your part was made? If your tires were made in the USA, look for the Department of Transportation (DOT) number on the inside of the tire sidewall next to the rim. The letters “DOT” are followed by eight to 13 letters and/or numbers, the last four digits of which indicate the week and year of manufacture of the tire. So, if the last four numbers are 3618, that means the tire was manufactured on the 36th week of 2018.
How to save a spare tire
In order for the spare tire to last up to ten years, you will need to periodically check its condition and tire pressure. According to the AAA, this means looking for signs of visible damage to the tire, such as punctures, sidewall cracks, impact bulges, and dry rot (which happens when the oils and other chemicals in a tire’s rubber dry out).
Checking tire pressure regularly is important not only to make sure they are ready to go if/when you need them, but because low tire pressure can also contribute to dry rot. Because it’s so easy to forget about your replacement part, AAA recommends checking it whenever you check the four tires that are in use and adding air as needed. You can find the amount of air your tires need either in your owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb.