Question about tires

[nisryus]

So I am still a n00b when it comes to tires.

My backup Corolla has all 4 tires replaced in 5/2010. Between 2010 and 2014, the car was driven between 5k to 6k miles a year, mainly on street and not freeway.

Now it is 9/2015, I just had the tires rotated at Costco, and they told me I should replace them after 4 years. The warranty on the tires was 40,000 miles.

Since the car wasn't driven the typical 11k to 15k a year like most people, should I replace them now? I looked at them and they looked fine. But I am afraid due to Texas heat, the longevity of the rubber might be shorten...

 

[Sabrewings]

If they're not down to the wear bars and are wearing evenly (no cupping or abnormal wear levels inside or outside), then leave them. If the car is driven fairly regularly they're not going to rot inside of 10 years.

Keep driving on them and get your money's worth. Trust the wear bars or buy a tread depth gauge and see for yourself.

 

[infoiltrator]

Generally 5 years for motorcycle tires, 10 for auto, is usually said. Not that my tires usually last that long. You could check the manufacture dates. And look for surface cracking.
I am in CT, my driving is New England, not Texas though.

 

[Charlie98]

If they are decent tires to start with, I wouldn't worry. I think the last set of Coopers I put on our daughter's truck are pushing 5-6 years and I wouldn't hesitate to keep rolling on them... but I know they are good tires and how they have been treated.

Having said that, my inlaws had a set of Goodyear Kevlar-belted Wranglers (Silent Armor?) One of the sidewalls just blew out from old age... they live in southern Nevada (very hot, very dry... ) and I think the tires were about 8 years old with a decent amount of tread left on them.

UV (sun) and heat (running them underinflated for an extended period of time) are the biggest immediate enemies of tires, but age gets everything, eventually.

 

[NutBucket]

IMHO 5-6 years for car tires. I just replaced the tires at 5 years on our WRX due to some pretty ugly sidewall cracks. They were probably worn to about 4/32". Bridgestone RE960 so cheap tires were definitely not the culprit.

 

[RLGL]

Proper inflation is critical. Once the sidewalls show signs of cracking, replace them. After 5 to 7 years most tire shops will not repair them.

 

[nisryus]

The sidewalls still look good. Don't see any cracks at all. So I should still be able to hold on to the tires for a little longer.

Oh, they are Bridgestone Potenza Re960 AS PP. Per teh Costco tech, I will need to do alignment since the left front has a little wearing on the inside, but not too bad. Otherwise, visually the tires looks in good shape.

 

[Banana]

My backup car had 10 yr old tires. :whiste: Finally replaced them this year. Michelins seem to last forever, tread-wise!

OP - Post a few close-up photos of your tires and we can judge better.

 

[razel]

Lots of good info already posted. Only thing to watch is if the car is parked outside then the rubber is beyond dry so correct tire pressure is very important and be careful of potholes.... but that's true in general.