Episode 80

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Published on:

30th Nov 2023

Do Tires Have An Expiration Date?

00:00 - Show Open - Do Tires Have An Expiration Date?

So how long do tires last, even if they still look new and have a lot of tread left?  Well that’s a great question and one we’re going to explore in today’s episode.  

00:50 - INTRO

Imagine a scenario where you buy a set of tires for your car, fully intending to use them, but life happens. There's a pandemic, you end up working from home and suddenly your tires are ten years old, but still have more than half their tread left. Should you replace them?

02:55 - How Long Should A Set Of Tires Last?

Until they wear out or until they age out. And that age out thing depends on the manufacturer. Most tire makers suggest that their tires should be inspected yearly beginning at six years of age and replaced if necessary.. And virtually all tire manufacturers say that ten years is the maximum life span for their tires, regardless of mileage.

08:10 - Tires Do Not Have An Expiration Date, But They Do Have A Tire Identification Number.

The last 4-numbers of the TIN or Tire Identification Number indicate the week and year the tires were made. For example, if your tire's TIN ended in 1518, that would mean that tire was made in the 15th week of 2018

12:00 - What Is The Point Of Checking Tire Age If You Have An Inexpensive Car?

This is a podcast about used cars and trucks and I want you to be an educated consumer. Most of the vehicles I recommend are at least five-years old and many are ten or twenty years old. Some even older. That said, I think knowing the age of the tires will make you feel more confident in your purchase and it can give you some negotiating leverage during the buying process.

17:15 - Close

if you already have a car or truck, go out today and check the TIN on your tires.  If you don’t know the last time your tires were changed, checking the TIN will let you know how old they are.  Then make a judgment call as to if or when you want to replace them.  And if you can’t afford it today, at least you will be aware that it’s something you should have on your “to-do” list. 

Also, if you’re in the market for a used car, truck or SUV, be sure to check the TIN on the tires while looking the vehicle over.  Don’t just rely on the person being nice and saying the tires aren’t “too old”.  I have a couple of sets of tires at home that look great, but one is 10-years old and the other is 7-8 years old.  I had lost track of time and wasn’t aware how old they really were, but now I am.   You should be too, so check your tires!   

Relevant Links:

Jay Leno Needs About 1200 Tires:  https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/jay-leno-needs-about-1200-tires/

How Do I Determine The Age Of My Tires: https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/how-do-i-determine-the-age-of-my-tires?ef_id=Cj0KCQiAgqGrBhDtARIsAM5s0_l46bZRbjIewMcFuY37OnvuDrVoBfuoHp2HFfbGvroDbcVHehwm2PsaAuj1EALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!386427243784!!!g!!&gclsrc=aw.ds&&affiliate=HM5&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgqGrBhDtARIsAM5s0_l46bZRbjIewMcFuY37OnvuDrVoBfuoHp2HFfbGvroDbcVHehwm2PsaAuj1EALw_wcB

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!