“Out of sight, out of mind,†goes the old saying and while this may be marvelous as it applies to your enemies, it`s never a good thing when it applies to your vehicle`s spare tyre, cautions automotive fitment centre chain TYRES & MORE®.
“Most spares are stored inside the boot of the vehicle or underneath it, and some on the back. Regardless of where your spare is located though, you simply can`t afford to forget about it and trust that it will perform as needed, when needed. Even if you haven`t used it at all, you should replace it every five years or so, dependent on the manufacturer,†says Marketing Manager, Natashe Taljaard.
But why replace something you haven`t used? The unfortunate reality is that tyres are made of rubber and like everything else, rubber perishes over time and especially when it`s exposed to the elements. Even when protected inside the boot of your car, the rubber on your spare will degrade and become increasingly brittle over time.
“This doesn`t just apply to your spare though. Some drivers, especially those who travel minimal distances and/or brake lightly and well in advance, are light on tyres and will eventually have to replace their tyres due to age alone – which hardly seems fair when you might have 80% tread remaining,†adds Taljaard.
But replace aged tyres, you must. When tyres become brittle and inflexible, they lose their grip on road surfaces, a fact that will become particularly and dangerously apparent in wet conditions. They also develop fine cracks and become susceptible to puncturing. Remember too that there are steel belts and other components in tyres, and as the rubber perishes these bonded parts will come apart gradually or worse, come apart rapidly while you`re driving at speed.
“All this – spinning out of control, getting a puncture or having a tyre blowout due to aged tyres – is completely avoidable. Whether you have a “marie biscuit†spare, run-flat tyres, off road tyres or just plain old tyres, many manufacturers recommend that you replace them every five years, while nearly all are adamant you must replace all tyres that are six years or older, regardless of how much tread remains,†Taljaard concludes.
Finally, always have your tyres rotated, checked or replaced by a reputable fitment centre like TYRES & MORE®. To find your closest TYRES & MORE® and to learn more about all the available products and services, visit the website www.tyresandmore.com
