So the temperatures are cool and your tires look great. Why not hit the road?
Not so fast. Have you checked the age of your tires, the temperature rating or the proper air pressure needed?
It's that first one, the age of the tire, that has Phoenix attorney Charles Williamson so concerned.
Williamson and his law firm Stark Williamson & Clausen have handled cases of cars rolling over because of the tread separating from old tires.
It happens quicker in hot climates like we have in the Valley.
"After six years, that bond between the tread and body starts coming apart," Williamson said.
So Williamson is pushing for a six-year mandatory replacement rule.
Right now, there is no government rule.
But it is mandatory the manufacturing date be printed on every tire.
You can find it by looking for the last for digits of the DOT number.
The last two numbers represent the year, and the two previous numbers show the week in that year.
So the numbers 4514 would mean the tire was made the 45th week of 2014.
One concern: the DOT number only has to be printed on one side of the tire.
So you may have to take a flashlight and check underneath as well.
Williamson says you can even find older tires being sold as new.
And he says spare tires are a big concern since they're rarely used and can sit for years under a car aging even quicker.
Also, check the tire's temperature rating printed on the tire.
An "A" means the tire is most resistant to aging due to heat.
A good amount of tire tread is also important.
And make sure the tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
It's the number found inside the car's door, not the one printed on the tire itself.
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