Not all tires are created the same - or at the same time. Countless traffic accidents - many resulting in fatalities and serious injuries - occur because retailers sell old or aging tires.

Degradation caused by old or aging tires generally occurs in tires older than six years of age. Tires degrade over time, with the aging process accelerated and made worse in Florida's hot, humid climate. Such long-term chemical degradation occurs within the tire and is invisible to the consumer. As the rubber breaks down, the chance of tread separation increases as adhesion between belts is lost. The result, in a worst-case scenario, is "catastrophic tire failure" often occurring normal or high-speed driving, leaving the operator to keep the vehicle under control to avoid an accident. This can occur on tires that show normal or even like-new tread wear and use.

The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Safety Administration in 2002 failed to enact a proposed tire-aging test in the face of strong industry opposition that called for more research.

This leaves consumers to protect themselves. How? "Decode" the tire's date of manufacture. This three- or four-digit code is stamped someplace on the tire's exterior wall (either inward or outward facing; if outward, you'll need to view the code from the underside of the vehicle).

• The code has four digits if the tire was made after 2000. For example, if the code reads, 2307, this indicates the tire was made in the 23rd week of 2007.


• Tires made prior to 2000 have three digits. For example, if the code reads, 236, this indicates the tire was made in the 23rd week of 1996.

Tires on your car should be no more than six years old; this includes the spare tire.

This age distinction is not random or arbitrary. Regardless of whether a tire has been on the road, and notwithstanding industry arguments against the U.S. Government's effort to ensure tires older than six years are kept from use, many car manufacturers have observed most tire tread separations occur with tires this age or older.

Therefore, it is vital that consumers discard tires once they have aged beyond six years. Please visit our Defective Tires page for more general information on the hazards of faulty tires as well as tire recalls.

VIDEO: Attorney Debi Chalik tells what steps to take if you are injured in a car accident in Florida, including single-vehicle accidents caused by defective tires and tire blowouts. Click play button below to watch the video.

If you or a loved one has suffered a motor vehicle accident due to a tire failure or blowout, contact Chalik & Chalik to explore your legal rights.