Skip To Content

Best Auto Repair, Houston

12510 Oxford Park Drive Houston, TX 77082

281-589-8984
Opening Hours
  • Mon 8:00AM - 6:00PM
  • Tue 8:00AM - 6:00PM
  • Wed 8:00AM - 6:00PM
  • Thu 8:00AM - 6:00PM
  • Fri 8:00AM - 6:00PM
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed
CONTACT US

No Fountain of Youth (Aging Tires)

Posted November 1, 2020 8:52 AM

Can you think of anyone who enjoys aging?  Wrinkles where you don't want them, gray hair, eyes that won't focus any more, no stamina. 

Believe it or not, your tires age, too, and they don't get better the older they get.  And here's the important thing to know, even if they can still pass a tread depth test, they may simply be too old to be safe 

Here's the best way to understand this.  Have you ever found an old deck of playing cards with a rubber band wrapped around them?  Try stretching the rubber band.  SNAP! It's all cracked and brittle.  And you haven't stressed that rubber one bit since the time you put them in that drawer.

Now you know what's happening to your tires.  Rubber ages.  Just like us, the day we come into the world, we start to go downhill (no pun intended).  Oh, engineers are able to make a tire last longer than ever before.  But that gas that keeps us alive—oxygen—seems to love to chemically mix with some components in rubber.  Oxidation causes rubber to become hard and brittle.  The rubber band test.

Is there an age test that can tell you when a tire is tool old to roll? Well, not really.  They don't all age the same.  Hot climates can make tires wear out more quickly.  Some experts say a tire can last up to 10 years but should be inspected every year after the age of five.  Others say tires should have an expiration date at six years old.

Since no one would ever ask a tire its age, how do you know how old one is? Believe it or not, tires made after the year 2000 have a date code stamped on either the inside or the outside of the sidewall.  It's a four-digit numbers; the first two tell you the week, the second two tell you the year. So if it has the number 1916, it was made in the 21st week of 2016. 

Another way to find out if your tires still have enough life in them is to have your vehicle service facility inspect them.  They look for signs of age, such as developing cracks in the rubber, the condition of the sidewalls and, of course, that old standby: tread.  If it's time to "retire" them, discuss options with your service advisor.


Westside Automotive
12510 Oxford Park Dr.
Houston, TX 77082
281-589-8984
http://www.houstonwestsideautomotive.com



Search



Archive

December 2019 (15)
January 2020 (5)
February 2020 (4)
March 2020 (5)
April 2020 (4)
May 2020 (5)
June 2020 (4)
July 2020 (4)
August 2020 (5)
September 2020 (4)
October 2020 (4)
November 2020 (5)
December 2020 (4)
January 2021 (6)
February 2021 (4)
March 2021 (4)
April 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
June 2021 (4)
July 2021 (4)
August 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
December 2021 (4)
January 2022 (6)
February 2022 (4)
March 2022 (4)
April 2022 (4)
May 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
August 2022 (4)
September 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
December 2022 (4)
January 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
March 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
May 2023 (4)
June 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
September 2023 (4)
October 2023 (5)
November 2023 (4)
December 2023 (5)
January 2024 (5)
February 2024 (4)
March 2024 (4)

Categories

Air Conditioning (4)Alignment (4)Alternator (3)Auto Safety (3)Automotive News (5)Battery (8)Brakes (14)Cabin Air Filter (4)Check Engine Light (2)Cooling System (7)Customer Detective Work (1)Dashboard (1)Diagnostics (3)Diesel Maintenance (1)Differential Service (1)Drive Train (3)Exhaust (3)Fluids (5)Fuel Economy (6)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (1)Fuel System (21)Headlamps (2)Inspection (2)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (1)Maintenance (23)Oil Change (4)Older Vehicles (3)Parts (2)PCV Valve (1)Safe Driving (1)Safety (2)Serpentine Belt (2)Service Intervals (4)Service Standards (5)Shocks & Struts (3)Steering (7)Timing Belt (5)Tires (2)Tires and Wheels (24)TPMS (2)Transmission (6)Trip Inspection (2)What Customers Should Know (30)Windshield Wipers (3)Winter Prep (1)Winter Tires (1)
  • AAA (American Automobile Association)
  • ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
  • Jasper
  • ASE Master Technician
  • BG Products
  • Denso
  • Car Care Aware

Testimonials

, 03/11/2024
Efficient and excellent communication. Reasonable pricing. Will be returning!
view all reviews
TAP TO CALL NOW 281-589-8984 X