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Tyres in the UAE, checked against the rules
How old your tyres are, what the RTA test and police actually check, what size your car takes, and what tyres cost. Every rule has a source and a date. No shop, no bookings, no "best tyre" lists.
Tool · works on your phone
How old is my tyre?
Example 3222: under five years, with 9 months left
- Made
- Week 32 of 2022, around 8 August 2022
- Age on 23 October 2026
- 4 years 2 months
- Five-year line
- Around 8 August 2027
A Dubai car fails the RTA technical test once a tyre is more than five years past its manufacture date. Check all four tyres and the spare.
Start where you are
- 01Fined, or failed the test
- 02Something looks wrong
- 03How old are my tyres?
- 04What size fits my car?
- 05Comparing prices
- 06Looking after them
- 07End of their life
Rule or myth?
All rulesThe rule A Dubai car fails the RTA technical test once a tyre is more than five years past its manufacture date. Driving on unfit tyres: Dh500, 4 black points, 7 days impounded.
RTA, 6 October 2020; police figures as reported in 2024 and 2026. Verified 23 October 2026.
| Claim you'll hear | What the sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| “Abu Dhabi rejects tyres at 3 years.” | Unconfirmed Only a retailer blog says this, with no source. Abu Dhabi Police statements we found refer to expired tyres and the same Dh500 fine, with no 3-year limit. | Abu Dhabi: Dh500 fine for tyres past their expiry date (Gulf News, Jul 2022)Jul 2022 · checked 23 October 2026 |
| “Shops can't sell tyres more than 2 years old.” | Not a UAE rule we can find No UAE regulation is cited by the pages that say it. The 24-month rule that turns up in searches is Qatar's, from 2011. | New norms for sale and import of tyres (Gulf Times, 2011, Qatar)2011 · checked 23 October 2026 |
| “New tyres must be under 150 days old.” | Advice, not a rule The figure comes from a mechanic quoted in a 2018 Gulf News feature. No authority is named. Asking for fresh stock is sensible, but it isn't law. | New car tyres should be less than 150 days old (Gulf News, 2018)2018 · checked 23 October 2026 |
| “An unused spare doesn't expire.” | False ESMA's 2012 scheme said tyres expire five years after manufacture, used or unused. | Safety norms for tyres to be tightened in UAE (Gulf News; 2012 scheme)2012 scheme · checked 23 October 2026 |
| “Tyres are fine for 6 to 10 years.” | Not for the UAE test You will see 6- and 10-year figures in general tyre-care advice, but the RTA test fails tyres more than five years past manufacture. | RTA carries field inspection of vehicle tyres in Dubai (Dubai Media Office, 6 Oct 2020)Oct 2020 · checked 23 October 2026 |
| “Plenty of tread means the tyre is legal.” | False Age and condition count too. An expired, cracked or cut tyre fails even with deep tread. | RTA carries field inspection of vehicle tyres in Dubai (Dubai Media Office, 6 Oct 2020)Oct 2020 · checked 23 October 2026 |
Tyre sizes by car
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23 October 2026 - Tyre bulge, cracks or low tread: is it safe to drive?
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23 October 2026 - UAE tyre expiry: the 5-year rule and where it comes from
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23 October 2026
Tyre news
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Rain is forecast in parts of the UAE until 31 October 2026 after hail in RAK and Fujairah. Why tread depth matters on wet roads, plus a two-minute check.
27 October 2026