The importance of checking your tyres

Tyre Age & Health: Why Tread Alone Isn’t Enough
Even if your tyres still have decent tread, they can be compromised by age, heat and sun exposure —
especially up here in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Why age matters: Rubber compounds in a tyre gradually degrade through exposure to UV rays, high
temperatures, and ozone — meaning a tyre can lose elasticity, crack or become less safe long before the
tread wears out.
Climate effect (rough guide):
Cooler southern states (Tasmania/Victoria): “Normal” ageing — tyres might be OK up to 8–10
years if stored well.
Warmer states (NSW/SA): perhaps ~6–8 years.
Sub-tropical/hot states (QLD): maybe ~4–6 years under heavy sun/heat.
Tropical/desert zones (NT, inland WA): possibly ~3–5 years for actively used or stored tyres in
open sun.

Check & replace area:
Always check the date code on the sidewall — the last four digits give the week and year of
manufacture (e.g., 2519 = 25th week of 2019). (tyreandrim.org.au)
According to RACV, even if the tread is legal, tyres older than 5–6 years should be inspected more
frequently, and replacement considered regardless of apparent wear. (racv.com.au)
For trailer/caravan tyres, ageing can be faster and special care should be taken. (raa.com.au)
Bottom line for caravanners: Since you and your wife tour in your caravan and store/ride in sunny QLD
conditions — keep an eye on the sidewalls for cracking, dry rubber, or damage; try to store
spares/shadowed tyres indoors or under cover; and consider replacing tyres around the 4–6 year mark if
they’ve seen heavy sun or are used on the van/trailer, even if the tread looks OK.
References:
RACV — Tyre maintenance, roadworthy checks & when to replace them. (racv.com.au)
Tyre and Rim Association of Australia — How to find the age of your tyres. (tyreandrim.org.au)
Tyroola guide — When do tyres expire? (tyroola.com.au)

The images below are of my own personal experience and taken from my original website. 1998 ...Click the photos for a larger view and then click Esc to revert.