Contrary to popular
belief, you can't
judge a tire by its
cover. Researchers
and most experts
agree that along
with tread depth and
proper tire
maintenance, tire
age is also crucial
to your safety on
the road.
This tire was bought
as new -- it has
never been on the
road -- but was
nearly 14 years old
when purchased.
Despite its deep
treads, this tire's
inside layers have
been slowly
decomposing and
drying out, what
experts say make it
like 'a ticking time
bomb.'
Attorney Roger
Braugh shows Brian
Ross that aged tires
have a higher
potential for
dramatic tread
separation, which in
many cases has led
to tragic endings
for unsuspecting
motorists. Braugh
says his lawsuits on
behalf of dozens of
victims have
uncovered a pattern
of corporate neglect
and government
inaction on the
issue of aging
tires.
This graphic breaks
down the various
codes in the
Department of
Transportation's
serial number for
tires. A cryptic
code of four numbers
at the end of the
12-digit DOT serial
number can tell the
consumer which week
and year a tire was
manufactured. Can
you tell when your
tires were made?
This tire's DOT code
indicates that it
was made in the 41st
week of 1994. Tires
made in the 1990s
have three numbers
at the end of the
DOT code, while
tires made after
2000 have four
numbers.
This tire is more
than seven years
old. It was made in
the 13th week of
2001. According to
experts like Sean
Kane, who runs a
private auto safety
research firm,�tires
older than six years
get increasingly
more dangerous
regardless of how
long they've
actually been on the
road.
ABC News' '20/20'
sent producers
undercover, rigged
with hidden cameras,
to tire retailers
all over the county
to see if any old
tires are being sold
as new. The
undercover producers
found half a dozen
tires older than six
years at this Sears
in��Jersey
City,��N.J.-- some
were even older than
a decade.
Aged Tires: A Hidden
Danger on the Road?
ABC News affiliates
all over the country
did their own
investigations
collaborating with
'20/20' and the
Brian Ross
Investigative Unit
for this report.
In��Indianapolis,
WRTV-TV found old
tires at three tire
distributors. This
tire was made in the
31st week of 2001.
Aged Tires: A Hidden
Danger on the Road?
In��San Francisco,
KGO's reporters
found a
nine-year-old tire,
made in the 45th
week of 1999, sold
as new at a tire
dealer.
Aged Tires: A Hidden
Danger on the Road?
And in the��New
Yorkarea, our
undercover '20/20'
shoppers found
several Sears stores
selling tires older
than six years.
Sears says it is
unusual to have old
tires in their
inventory and told
ABC News,
'Consistent
maintenance, proper
inflation and
regular inspection
for tread wear
patterns and damage
are the keys to good
tire performance.
For consumers who
are concerned about
the age or condition
of their tires, it
is recommended they
let us evaluate
their tires
regularly, which
we'll do free of
charge.'
Aged Tires: A Hidden
Danger on the Road?
At another Sears
store, we were told
that a tire made 12
years ago, in the
46th week of 1996,
was perfectly safe.
Sears said, 'We
follow an inventory
process of first in,
first out, and we
turn our tire
inventory an average
of more than three
times a year. We
note that there is a
difference of
opinion in the tire
industry...about the
service-life limits
of tires. The safety
of our customers is
a top priority for
Sears, and we'll
continue to work
with all interested
parties to push for
a consensus on tire
service limits.'
