Though, many fail in their attempt to choose the right tires they expected. This results from being heard or reading from an unreliable source about the tire manufacturing date. Car owners in Thailand often consider the tire manufacture date stamped on every tire as part of the DOT code rather than picking high-quality items that perfectly fit their vehicles, uses and service requirements. Is it sensible, or not? What should we actually do to pick out a good tire?
Research studies commissioned or conducted by government and private agencies in Thailand and overseas say the tire manufacture date has nothing related to the tire performance as widely misinterpreted. The truth is, once a tire has been manufactured and properly stored without being pressed or impacted, it typically remains in good condition for more than three years.
In 2007, South Korea’s Industrial Resources Department issued a controversial report stating that a tire with the life time of more than one year from its manufacture date may in whatever extent affect tire performance rating as well as safe driving. However, such a mistaken belief has been washed away after the Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCP8) conducted a test to prove the difference of performance and safety ratings between the use of newly manufactured tires and that with date of three years from the time of manufacture (2005—2008). Applying the KSM6750 scheme, which includes tests in high-speed and periodically stopped driving scenarios, there was no difference in performance and safety ratings regardless of the date of manufacture.
Additionally, the US Department of Transportation published an article on “The Performance of a Pneumatic Tire” in February 2006. The article claims changes and deteriorations in an automotive tire are caused by oxidation occurring when the temperature rises. A tire with riding speed of 120 km/hour can make temperature on the tire surface to up to 75?C. But if the internal air pressure is lower than that of the regular level, the temperature on the tire surface will be increasingly higher that what it should be. Thus, the temperature within a depot storing new tires before being shipped to customers has no significant effect on the tire quality when compared to heat caused by friction during use. Generally, unused tires can be stocked for more than 3 years before distribution, subject to storage condition factors as recommended by the manufacturer.
Germany, a leader in the global automotive industry, also challenged the belief. Is it true that newly manufactured tires outperform stocked but unused items? The ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club), Germany's and Europe's largest automobile club with more than 17 million members in June 2010, conducted a tire performance test for vehicles manufactured in 2007 and 2005. With test drive in winter and summer scenarios, it was found that there was no vivid indicator affirming newly manufactured tires outperform unused items produced earlier. Nevertheless, heat caused by driving and the internal air pressure were found influential to safe driving and tire performance.
Despite the international agencies above say there is no difference between newly manufactured tires and unused tires produced earlier in their performance and safety ratings, some people wonder if the test results are also practical in Thailand’s driving environment. Right, it needs to be proved. To get a tangible result, the Faculty of Science of Mahidol University joined hands with TUV Rheinland Group, a global provider of technical, safety and certification services with headquarters in USA, to conduct a performance test for tires with different dates of manufacture (2009 and 2010). Within high-speed, continuous driving scenarios, including the rate of 230 km/hour for 60 minutes, the result shows not more than 1 percent difference, plus unexpected ability to support heavy load and long-haul journeys. Regarding tire surface and tire structure, the test results also show no distinctive difference.
Regarding the ability to grip pavement, braking and vehicle controlling, both newly manufactured and unused tires produced earlier perform consistently in a braking test at the Klong Sarm Circuit in Pathumthani, at which TUV Rheinland Group applied a speed of 80 km/hour.
Choodaj Deeprasertkul, lecturer at the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, commented, “Tires with different date of manufacture provide no distinctive performance. However, it depends on how the tires are kept, and it is essential that they must be stored in proper temperature controlled room away from humidity and sunlight. As weather conditions always have effect on tire quality and flexibility, it would be better to purchase your tires from a reliable, authorized retailer.”
He also said, “The story that ‘the newer tire the better performance’ proves to be unreasonable. In fact, the quality of a tire depends on raw materials and advanced technology. A lot of tires is generally derived from the same source of raw materials and being manufactured with the use of the same technology. We have often found that tires produced earlier provide greater flexibility and better performance and grip than that of the newly made ones. For smooth and safe driving, I recommend choosing ones that really fit your vehicle’s wheel size. Second, think about the conditions you drive in and how you drive. Remember, the date of manufacture has no direct effect on a tire performance and its deterioration.”
Now, you have become a well-informed. It’s time to go out with confidence and choose tires that grip the road better and give maximum safety you expect. Don’t waste your time and money searching for the newest possible DOT-registered tires because many reliable agencies worldwide have confirmed that it has no matter, anymore.
Today, car owners in around the world have realized that the best tires for their vehicles are ones with the highest compatibility to wheel size and vehicle use. Driving performance and safety cannot be compromised at all. Now it’s time to say goodbye to the old belief!
For further media information, please contact:
Ruthaiwan Sinlapachan / Tonghathai Suddee
Weber Shandwick
Tel.: 0 2343 6000 ext 067 or 174
Email: [email protected] ; [email protected]