I have found that one of the most dangerous issues of a vehicle facing drivers is the age of their tires. Yes, tires age like everything else. Where it is often overlooked is when we replace the tires on the vehicle after many years but we do not replace the spare because it still has all the tread and we think it must still be good. While the tread looks good you should remember that it is just as old as the tires you replaced.

Tires are mostly made of rubber which deteriorate with age even if they are not being used. This would include a spare tire that looks new or a tire on a boat or utility trailer that you have had for many years but the tread looks great. The components of a tire can dry out over time, the rubber can deteriorate and the adhesion between the belts can break down. This is especially true in the southern states do to the heat and humidity the tire is exposed to. The breakdown of the tire could occur while driving at highway speeds which could cause a major accident resulting in serious injuries or even death.

You can tell the age of your own tire by looking at the last 3 or 4 numbers of the DOT identification numbers on the side of your tires. The first two numbers are the week the tire was made and the last two numbers (or just the last number for those tires made since 1999 or earlier) show the year the tire was manufactured. Several manufacturers believe that you should discard tires that are 6 years and older even if they have never been used. You should not only check your current tires on your car but also your spare. You should check your trailer tires and even tires that you buy brand new to make sure you are not buying a tire that is aged which in turn could be a serious accident waiting to happen.

In an effort to head off litigation, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is committed to reviewing the hours-of-service rules. The FMCSA has invited the public to participate in a series of 4 listening sessions in January 2010 to gather information and comments on hours-of-service for commercial vehicle drivers. The hearings will cover topics such as driver rest and on-duty time, sleeper berth use, and loading and unloading times. Hours-of-service requirements are designed to help prevent commercial vehicle-related accidents, fatalities and injuries by prescribing duty hours and rest periods for commercial drivers.

More information on the hearings is available here.