I need to STRONGLY SUGGEST that any tire over seven years old be replaced. Since these cars are often not driven as much as in the days past, it is common to find tires which were always stored inside, look perfect, have no cracks, and also next to no miles on them. A visual inspection for a well cared for tire which appears good does not work on modern radials to justify keeping them and not replacing them. A visual inspection used to work on the old non-radial polyester and nylon cord tires, but no more.
Industry studies shows tires lose as much as 40% to 50% of their strength just from time. Keeping old tires is a bad trade off from the safety and vehicle damage that can happen from a tire failure. I know it is hard to change a good looking low mile tire, but it is not worth leaving them and then being upset later. Not a cost effective choice.
Also, a good idea to check your valve stems. A stem breaking off can be as bad as a blow-out. Push the stem all the way over at right angles to the rim and check the location where it enters the rim for any sign of cracks. If it breaks off while being pushed over, great, you saved yourself a blowout.
I attached a picture of how to check the manufacture dates for a tire It is a four digit code on both outside and inside of the tire. If it is a three-digit code, the last digit is the last digit of the year and there no telling which decade it is from. A three digit code means the tire is automatically very old because this change was made in 2000. Also, if the code is only one side of the tire, rather than both, this also means the tire is too old because this change to both sides was done quite a few years ago.
