Tire Industry Presses For Ruling on Tire Expiration Dates As Automakers Issue Replacement Warnings

Washington DC June 14, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that debate is brewing between the tire industry and a few automakers who say new tires should come with expiration dates, reported The Detroit News.

In a June 10 letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Rubber Manufacturers Association, a trade group representing tire manufacturers, urged safety officials to issue an advisory to consumers “based on the best research and scientific findings.”

A spokesman for the group said issuing an advisory to consumers about tire care versus tire age is more in line with current data. "The industry does not have enough data that correlates a specific age with degraded tire performance," said Dan Zielinski, spokesman for the Rubber Manufacturers Association.

According to the News, “Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG recently began warning U.S. customers to replace older tires regardless of wear. The companies say age can make tires weaker, even if they look new.” The two automakers suggest there is enough research to support replacing tires after six years.

Besides Ford and DaimlerChrysler, BMW AG, Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp. also warn consumers to replace tires regardless of wear. In the beginning of June, GM issued a statement in support of the tire industry. "We recognize that tires do age, and we are participating in studies that are trying to get a better understanding of the issue," James Gutting, director of GM’s Tire and Wheel Laboratory in Milford said in the statement. "The customer operating environment for the main aging factors varies greatly, and that makes it difficult to select a specific age when tires should be replaced," Gutting said.

More from the News: “Under a mandate from Congress, the traffic safety agency is conducting research on tire aging and is expected to propose a new test for tire manufacturers to pass. Traffic safety agency spokesman Rae Tyson said the agency would consider the petition on tire labeling as it studies the tire aging issue.”