My 2003 Prius is due for new tires which made me recall an ABC News video on car tires, you better believe I am going to heed their warning, those old tires are hazardous. The video will show you how to read the (encrypted) date when the tire was manufactured so you’re NOT buying a car tire (that has never been used) that could be up to 12 years old!

You might think a 12 year old tire isn’t a problem, or maybe that a new tire that’s only 6 years old isn’t a problem either. But you know how our highways are practically littered with complete treads of tires that have fallen off of cars and how they appear to be brand new as you speed by… well those are in fact very old tires, sold as new. Just because you bought them recently and they have perfect tread doesn’t mean that they are new (fresh) tires, tires very much do have a shelf life. You could be an unsuspecting consumer and could be buying quite old tires – and it doesn’t take much driving on them before they fall apart and cause an accident. Learn how to read the encrypted code on them so when you’re in the market for new tires, like I am, you get what you’re paying for, rather than something that could kill you and your kids.