According to the NHTSA, as tires age the odds of tread separation rise. So, uh, do you know how old your tires are?

An ABC News article says tires aged six years or older should actually be replaced, as their risk is especially high.  There are other causes, but age is a big factor.

So, how can you tell for yourself if your tires are "young enough" to keep -- or worse, if your tire salesman is trying to sell you "old" tires? It's pretty easy.

Look at the side of your tire for a four-digit number, stamped into a little oval. The first two numbers represent the week the tire was manufactured and the last two digits represent the year. For example, 1215 means the tire was made in March of 2015 -- because March is the month in which the 12th week of the year falls.

Now you know. Drive and/or ride safely guys!

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