If you drive...this is a must watch! Could save your life...
 

Or, the life of someone you love!

ABC News

Hmmmm. I thought this was pretty good info. I decided to wait until tomorrow to climb under my van with a flashlight to find out the true age of my tires. I don't want the neighbors to think I have 'gone mechanic' but I am very curious after viewing this video. I will let you know the age of my tires once I have checked them.

Also, my heart really went out to the family that lost their son due to old tires that failed. His friend also. I think this is a tragedy that could have been prevented and in the future, more tragedy could be prevented if folks just know about these issues.

What is that saying? Knowledge is power. I hope that this knowledge empowers someone to make sure no loved one is harmed because of something so negligent on the part of those that sell the tires. I hate to hear the "if I had only known" statements, like that poor dad on the video. :(

wow.. that is crazy! how scary!! :eek: im gonna have my boyfriend check our tires tomorrow.. i will most definitely pass this message along!! thanks for posting!! ;) :hug:

They always check my tires when I have the oil changed and I keep an eye on them, too. They have alerted me twice when I needed to replace a tire and I appreciated it. The wear was on the inside where you wouldn't see it unless you were under the car like they are when they change the oil.

Thank you! That is important to know!

Wow, I'm going to check too- thanks for posting.

Well poo, the video wont play for me- it plays the ad then nothing. How do you tell the age of your tires?

There is a series of four numbers that are unto themselves. Not included with other numbers, I mean. It is at the end of the DOT (Department of Transportation) number. Like 1806 would mean that they were made in the 18th week of 2002. The number 5204 would mean that they were made in the 52nd week of 2004. Sometimes, the tires are mounted in such a way that the numbers are on the inside of the tires and you would have to get under the car to see it.

I have checked mine and they were made in 2002. They are six years old and I just got them last year. My friend's husband expressed concern over my tires having 'stress cracks' in the rubber even though they were farily new when he noticed this. However, they were in fact, five years old at the time of purchase.

They went undercover to determine how many sellers are marketing 'old' tires. The man who sent his son off to Canada with a car he thought was safe. The tires were nine years old but he didn't know. He was told the tires were safe. They were not. Both boys were killed because of the tires. Many others have been killed for the some reason.

Many have asked for an 'age limit' law for tires. There are folks still working on accomplishing this.

:goodpost::thumbs26:

Very interesting and informative. Thank you for posting. Do you plan on talking to the people that sold you your tires last year? This is really frustrating. I wonder what they would do about it? I'll have to check mine too. Again, thanks for the info!

The only purpose it would serve (for me to say anything to them) would be to just let them know that I am aware of how to tell the age of the tires.

There is a group currently working on attempting to have laws created to afford better protection for the consumer. As expected, manufacturers are fighting this. The 'bottom line' is always about money and never about safety. Until they are forced. It is sad.