Tires: Are They Too Old? (6-Year Limit)

A friend just came back from his workshop, unsuccessful in his attempt to get his 1993 Suzuki Swift STH approved for its vehicle inspection (TÜV) sticker.

Quote:

Maengelbericht: Ihr Fahrzeug hat erhebliche Maengel. This concerns: - Vehicle tires older than 6 years. - Headlight height adjustment (missing or defective). - License plate illumination, brightness insufficient. - Steering wheel is heavily worn. - Rear door locks, non-functional. Label not affixed. Re-inspection required within 4 weeks after the defect has been rectified.

The tires are DOT 0402. They have very slight cracking, with a uniform tread depth of 5-6 mm and a good tread pattern. The headlight height adjustment was missing from the factory. An exception permit is registered in the old vehicle registration document, which is still used to operate the vehicle. However, the headlight alignment was previously checked at the workshop and deemed acceptable without further adjustments. The license plate lights are working properly, although their brightness appears to be slightly lower than on brand new cars. Even with new W5W bulbs, there's not much more brightness to be gained. The steering wheel is as old as the vehicle and made of some kind of foam material. Yes, it's now very smooth. The rear door locks work perfectly; they were simply locked with the child safety feature on both sides, which prevents them from being opened from the inside. This is intentional, due to the transportation of children.

According to the statements from the maintenance workshop, which the vehicle inspector visits regularly, some inspectors have been classifying tires older than 6 years as a significant defect since April and refusing to issue the inspection sticker. After 16 years of vehicle age, no one will want to retrofit the missing headlight height adjustment. The wiring for it is missing and would require a significant amount of work to install. There is nothing that can be improved regarding the license plate lighting. The old lamp housings have no reflectors or similar features, so the small lights simply shine directly on them. However, both are functioning. I have no comments regarding the steering wheel or the child safety lock. Is it now necessary to replace steering wheels after a certain number of years?


The fact is that, during the re-inspection, the examining inspector will have to check off these specific issues. Regardless of who it is, the inspector now wants to see new tires, a headlight height adjustment, brightly lit license plate lights, and a new steering wheel.

We are a bit puzzled! Does anyone have more knowledge about this subject?!

So, that can't be right for that reason alone.
Because tires that are 4 years old and unused are still ALLOWED to be sold as new tires!
What about someone who doesn't drive 200,000 km per year? They can just throw away the tires after 2 years.

In Austria, it's like this: Emergency vehicles, such as police, fire department, and ambulance services, ...
Tires must be no older than 10 years.
Private cars: Unlimited. Only the overall condition needs to be suitable.
I know that's another one of those vague terms that can be interpreted in different ways.
However, even here, there are guidelines. The tires can be brittle, as long as the cracks do not extend to the fabric.

For example, I have a workshop that tried to refuse to issue my vehicle's inspection certificate because my tires were 9 years old, and they reported this to the local authorities.
Either there are regulations that drivers must adhere to, or there aren't.
But if they exist, then the examiners must also adhere to them.

Hutfahrer wrote:

? The fact is that, during the re-inspection, the examining inspector will have to check off these specific issues. Regardless of who it is, the inspector now wants to see new tires, a headlight height adjustment, brightly lit license plate lights, and a new steering wheel. We are a bit puzzled! Does anyone have more knowledge about this subject?!

Go to a different organization. At Dekra, the car is inspected first, and you only pay if everything is okay. Then, you receive the sticker.

"If I find any significant defects, I will write a detailed list of them, including the date and my signature, and payment will be made upon completion of the repairs."

I wouldn't be surprised if the inspector and the workshop are trying to inflate the bill. The workshop might even have tires in your size in stock, although it should be said that if the tires are cracked, they should be replaced regardless of their age.

Put the winter tires back on.
The license plate will receive brighter lights, and if that's not possible, aluminum foil or similar material should be applied to the back of it. Alternatively, a new license plate can be obtained.
The steering wheel will be fitted with a permanently attached leather cover.
Go somewhere else with it.

The license plate lights cannot be easily replaced. Their plastic covers are opaque and have yellowed over time. They are no longer available new. Therefore, the license plate lights appear quite yellow. We replaced the steering wheel with a slightly newer one from a version without power steering, and it's larger. However, it's not as worn. It will be reinstalled after the vehicle passes the technical inspection. You cannot drive with the bus steering wheel!

Regarding the tires: They are starting to show superficial cracks, barely half a millimeter deep. Additionally, the rubber has turned gray. While the appearance could be restored to black, I'm not keen on doing that. There are no winter tires available for this vehicle, so it cannot be driven on icy roads. Consequently, it doesn't matter whether the tires are suitable for winter conditions. It drives reasonably well in wet conditions, but it's best to avoid using the Swift on icy roads.

Another problem: This testing organization, with its five-letter name, holds a monopoly. There's nothing else. There are independent testing organizations in Berlin.


Tomorrow, another attempt will be made in Berlin, at a Berlin-based testing organization.