Is Your Car's Spare Tire Old and Dangerous?

Reported by: John Matarese

Quite a few Tristate drivers will be hitting the road during the upcoming holidays. But there may be hazards on the highway that you don't even realize exist...And they could be in your own car.

How Old is that Spare?

In today's economy, it's becoming more common for people to replace a worn or blown tire with the full-size spare in the trunk, rather than buy a new one.

But here's something that may surprise you. Leaving that spare untouched for years can be dangerous. Because unlike fine wines, tires do not get better by simply sitting and aging. A tire hanging under an SUV is the most dangerous, because it is exposed to rain, dirt, heat, and road salt.

Rotate the Spare

Ideally, you should rotate the spare every year, according to the Rubber Manufacturer's Association. The group says "this way all five tires will wear at an even rate. When it comes time to replace the tires you then replace all five tires."

Auto experts say it's important to check your owner's manual to see if five wheel rotation is recommended for your model. If you have a space saver spare, of course, you can't use it as regular tire.

Check the Tire's Age, if you Plan Much Use

Sean Kane, a consultant with Safety Research and Strategies, says "most consumers don't realize that there is an age on the tire...a date the tire was made."

While the Rubber Manufacturers Association says there are too many variables to determine an official expiration date, most car makers now recommend tires not be in service after six to seven years.  As tires age, they're at risk of deterioration, which can eventually cause the tire to separate.

Old Tire Leads to Tragedy

Patrick James knows all too well the danger there. His ten year old daughter died in an accident caused by a spare tire that separated.

James says "the van went out of control. It flipped four times and Alexis was ejected from the vehicle even though she was wearing a seat belt."

The spare tire had been put on a month before and appeared to be new according to the police report.
 
But James says "the tire had brand new looking treads and it appeared to be a brand new tire even though it was really 13 years old."

Next Page: How to Check your Tire's Age