Wolverhampton Licensing has issued a clear warning to all licensed taxi and private hire drivers: no tyre, including the spare, can be more than ten years old.
The rule, part of the council’s ongoing commitment to passenger safety and vehicle compliance, will be strictly enforced by licensing and compliance officers.
How to check your tyre’s age
Drivers are reminded to inspect the DOT code stamped on the tyre sidewall. The final four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture — for example, “2319” means the tyre was made in week 23 of 2019.
If any tyre has an obscured, altered, or missing DOT code, it will automatically be treated as defective. Vehicles presented for inspection with tyres older than ten years will fail compliance checks and may be suspended from service until the tyres are replaced.
Why a 10-year-old tyre can still happen
Some drivers have questioned the rule, arguing that most taxi tyres are replaced long before they reach ten years old due to heavy use and mileage. However, Wolverhampton Licensing points out that 10-year-old tyres can still exist in a number of situations:
- Spare wheels – The most common example. Many taxis and private hire cars carry full-size or space-saver spare tyres that are rarely, if ever, used. These can easily sit untouched in the boot for over a decade.
- Stored or replacement wheels – A vehicle might have been off the road for long periods, or tyres fitted second-hand from another car without checking their age.
- Part-worn or warehouse-stored tyres – Drivers buying part-worn tyres, or even unused tyres that have been stored for years in warehouses, may unknowingly fit rubber that is already close to or past the ten-year limit. Always check the DOT code before fitting.
While most working taxi tyres wear out within 1–2 years due to mileage, the age rule applies to all tyres, including spares and those in storage. Rubber degrades naturally over time, and even unused tyres can develop internal cracks or weakened sidewalls that make them unsafe.
Council reminder on safety
A spokesperson for Wolverhampton Licensing said:
“We’re reminding all drivers that tyre safety isn’t just about tread depth — it’s also about age and condition. Even if a tyre looks fine, it can become dangerous with age. Drivers must check the DOT codes regularly and replace any tyre over ten years old, including the spare.”
The Department for Transport and DVSA both recommend replacing tyres older than ten years on all passenger-carrying vehicles.
Source: DM News – Wolverhampton update
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