TYRE EXPIRY DATE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Many people do not know that tyres have expiry dates.Its not easy to see it on a tyre sidewall because it is not written in an ordinary manner.
Tyres have indeed an expiry date. They have a four (04) year expiry period from the DOM (Date Of Manufacturing).
Some tyres have an asterisk at the beginning and at the end of an expiry date. e.g An asterisk *0504* may be stamped on a tyre. This simply means that the tyre was manufactured in the FIFTH WEEK in the YEAR 2004.
On other tyres a writing of simply 0504 may appear. Please note that 0504 has just been picked as an example.
Different expiry dates may appear on different tyres, e.g 1112,0715,0716,0114 etc etc.
Please check your tyre expiry date. Do not drive your vehicle on expired tyres as a tyre burst is most likely to occur especially in hot weather. This is because the tyre tends to be hardened and may develop cracks.
NOTABLE TYRE WRITINGS
C — means Commercial. The tyre is suitable on a commercial vehicle.
P — means Passenger. It means the tyre is suitable on a passenger car.
SPEED — RATED TYRES
An optional letter after aspect ratio specifies the speed rating of a tyre. This helps assure that the tyre can operate safely at the rated vehicle speed.
Some speed – rated tyres carry a service description (90H) instead of showing the speed symbol in the size designation. 90 means load index.
Speed symbol. Maximum speed
Z. Above 240km/h
V. 240km/h
H. 210km/h
T. 190km/h
S. 180km/h
TYRE PRESSURE
The amount of air pressure in the tyre depends on the tyre size and how it is used.
Passenger cars tyres are inflated from about 22 to 36 psi (152 to 248 kpa).The maximum inflation pressure is marked on the tyre side walls.
PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR YOUR TYRES’ PRESSURE SIZE AS YOU PUMP AIR AT THE GAS STATION.
Running the tyres at the specified pressure helps provide proper vehicle handling while avoiding premature tire wear.
Under inflated tyres wear on the outsides of the tread. Also, the tyres flex excessively which produces extra heat and more rapid wear.
Over inflation causes the center of the tread to wear.The tyre cannot flex normally and this puts stress on the sidewalls and piles.
Psi means Pounds per square inch
Kpa means kilopascals
1psi =6.895kpa or For quick conversions 1 psi =7kpa
** Now having given you this information on tyres, take a closer look at tyres over and see if you are able to understand the meaning of those letters and writings.