Is it necessary to replace the spare tire that has been left in the car for 10 years and has hardly been used?

he spare tire is only used when the tire is punctured or flat. Many people have never used the spare tire, or have used it once or twice, driving only three to five kilometers each time. Normally used tires need to be replaced every 5 years, as they have already aged after 5 years, and the spare tire will definitely not be replaced together. Most tires are made of rubber, which can age even if not in use. Tires that have been exposed to wind and sun will age faster and become more severe in about 5 years, requiring replacement. Although the spare tire is in the trunk and has a slow aging rate, if it is 10 years old and the time is relatively long, the aging will also be more severe. Do you need to replace it?

In theory, it needs to be replaced, and the risk of using aged tires is relatively high. In practice, it also depends on the driving environment. If you are only commuting in the city, you can choose not to change it. Even if the tire is really punctured and flat, you can find a place to repair it by driving a spare tire for up to three to five kilometers. The spare tire has a short driving distance and low usage intensity, and even tires that have been in use for over a decade will not have any problems. If you frequently go on business trips to other places, or drive on your own every year, especially in areas with poor road conditions, a ten-year spare tire needs to be replaced. Because the probability of using a spare tire is high, and after replacing it, it may not be possible to find a place to repair thetire in a short period of time. It requires driving a long distance, and the intensity of use will also increase. The probability of aging tires having problems will greatly increase, affecting driving safety.

After the aging of tire rubber, the cohesion between molecules decreases, and the tensile strength naturally deteriorates. Although there are steel wires on the front and curtain layers on the side, which provide some reinforcement, the strength of the entire tire still greatly decreases. Normal flat road driving may not have any problems. Once the tire is hit by rocks or other bumps, it is easy to burst the tire, and abnormal tire pressure is also more likely to burst the tire. Taking the commonly used rubber bands as an example, new rubber bands can be stretched for a long time without breaking, with great elasticity. If they are placed for three to five years and pulled lightly, they will break without any elasticity, which is a decrease in the cohesion between rubber molecules. The same goes for tire rubber, which can easily burst when subjected to a slight external force due to severe aging.

In reality, most family cars are used for commuting to and from work, driving in urban areas, or occasionally driving small long-distance distances of up to three to five hundred kilometers. If the spare tire is not cracked too much after ten years, it can still be left unchanged. After all, the probability of using a spare tire is very low, and even if used, a place to repair the tire can be found within the longest distance of several tens of kilometers. Many cars are equipped with tire pressure monitoring, even if the tire is punctured and the air pressure just decreases, it can be detected in a timely manner. Going to repair the tire in a timely manner does not require replacing the spare tire. So whether to replace it mainly depends on the driving environment, and most people don't need to replace it. Of course, the spare tire has not been replaced for ten years. If you need to use the spare tire for long-distance driving, the speed must not be too fast, and you should slow down on speed bumps and bumpy roads. Use it carefully, and if you can find a place to repair the tire, immediately repair or replace it to reduce the time you spend using the spare tire.

From：WONDEE Auto parts

2024-6-24