Guides
How often should tyres be replaced?
Even with plenty of tread left, a tyre ages. The measure is the date, not the mileage.
Rubber hardens with time
A tyre does not only wear out, it also ages. The compound hardens over the years under oxygen and sunlight; grip drops and fine cracks appear on the sidewall. That is why a low-mileage car that sits in a garage still reaches a point where the tyres have to be replaced.
The production date in the DOT code
On the sidewall there is a code beginning with DOT, and the last four digits give the production date: the first two are the week, the last two the year. So 3823 means week 38 of 2023. The code may only appear on one side of the tyre — if you cannot see it, check the other side.
How many years
The common view is to watch tyres closely once they pass six years from the production date, and to replace anything over ten years regardless of tread depth. That includes the spare — a spare that has sat in the boot for years can be unreliable exactly when you need it.
Check the date when buying too
A tyre sold as new may have sat in a warehouse for two years. Ask for the DOT code when buying and, if possible, choose one produced within the last year. When we supply the tyre we tell you the date without being asked.
We do this work
Seasonal changeover
Summer to winter and back. We label the set we take off before handing it over.