New Car, Old Tires? Uncover the 'Secret Code' to Prevent Fatal Tire Bursts

• Thousands of accidents and hundreds of deaths occur annually in India due to tire bursts, with incidents rising on expressways.
• New cars can have old tires; dealers sometimes sell 2-3 year old stock, and spare tires can be 4-5 years old.
• Tires have a 'secret code' (DOT code) on the sidewall, with the last four digits indicating the manufacturing week and year (WWYY).
• Tire companies recommend replacing tires after 5-6 years, even with good tread, as rubber degrades and cracks appear.
• Regularly check tire pressure, avoid overloading, do not exceed 80-100 km/h in summer, and replace cracked or bulging tires.