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Until now, you had to trust the tread-wear ratings on the sidewalls and a tire's tread-wear warranty to tell you how long your tires would last. Our new tests show that claims don't always meet reality.
Some tire makers vastly overstate tread wear; others underestimate. For details on our accelerated tread-wear tests for all-season tires, see Close Up on page 60.
Tread life is important, but it shouldn't outweigh braking, handling, and other critical safety factors. Indeed, tires that last too long may pose a safety risk, since rubber compounds deteriorate with age. That has led some automakers to recommend discarding tires after six years, regardless ...