In the UAE, you should consider changing your car tires every 4 to 5 years as a general rule due to rubber degradation from the extreme heat, or when the tread depth reaches or falls below 3mm for optimal safety on wet roads, according to RTA Dubai guidelines. Many drivers here are surprised to learn that age is a critical factor, often more so than tread depth alone—a tire with 5mm of tread but that's 6 years old can be a significant risk, especially after long exposure to 45°C summer temperatures which accelerates the rubber's breakdown. For a typical family sedan like a Toyota Camry driving 25,000 km annually in mixed city and highway conditions (Dubai to Abu Dhabi), you might reach the 3mm wear limit in about 2 to 3 years. The total cost of ownership per kilometer for tires becomes clearer when you factor in annual depreciation: a set of four quality tires for a Camry (around 2,800 AED) lasting 60,000 km translates to a cost of about 0.047 AED per km, not including rotation or alignment services. Abu Dhabi Mobility's safety campaigns consistently emphasize the 3mm threshold for wet braking performance, while recommendations from the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) for tire age align with the 5-year advisory for our climate, even if the tires look fine visually. Always check the DOT manufacturing date on the tire sidewall yourself; it's a four-digit code where the last two digits indicate the year of manufacture.
