An artificial intelligence answer can sound as confident as if it had been prepared by an experienced tyre specialist. But fluent text and accompanying links do not guarantee that the advice is correct. When choosing tyres, it is worth checking what it is based on and whether it applies to your particular situation. Especially when a single number, such as the year of manufacture, is used to draw conclusions about the quality of the entire tyre.
When AI advice leads to the wrong choice
Egzotika specialists are increasingly meeting customers who have already chosen their tyres after consulting AI. Some arrive with mistaken assumptions about a particular model, tyre age or suitability for their car.
AI may describe a tyre as “very good”, but that assessment is not enough to decide whether it suits a particular car and the driver's needs. The buyer risks paying more when another tyre could be more suitable and cost less.
A buyer choosing tyres independently online may be disappointed as soon as they start driving: the model they bought may not meet their expectations for comfort, noise or winter behaviour. Even a model that is technically suitable for the car will not necessarily be the best choice for the particular driving conditions.
In online retail, we are also seeing more requests to return products where customers say they chose their tyres based on AI advice.
So before ordering tyres, check that they are suitable for your car and, if in doubt, consult a specialist. This can help you avoid an unsuitable purchase and unnecessary expense.
Information published online varies in value
AI responses are shaped by information learned during training, and some systems also search for sources online. Alongside manufacturers' technical recommendations, the internet contains sellers' advertising, forum discussions and individual drivers' experiences. One person's account of particular tyres does not justify conclusions about all tyres of the same age. [1], [2]
AI can also rely on unreliable sources, including poorly substantiated descriptions on sellers' websites whose authors' expertise is unclear. For example, it may present an advertising promise or an unverified claim as a technical conclusion without adequately assessing its reliability or its contradictions with manufacturers' recommendations. A link to a seller's website therefore does not, by itself, confirm that an AI answer is correct. [1], [2]
When summarising information, AI may omit important conditions. For example, it may apply a recommendation about tyres used for many years to an unused tyre that has been stored correctly. Check whether claims are supported by manufacturers' documents and specific test results. [1], [2]
A convincing explanation can be wrong
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, describes generative AI's ability to present incorrect information confidently. The explanations and source references supposedly supporting an answer can also be wrong. It is therefore worth opening the cited document and checking whether it really says what AI claims. [1]
What the DOT date tells you about a tyre
The four digits marking a tyre's date of manufacture, usually found at the end of the DOT marking, indicate the week and year of manufacture. For example, 4524 means the 45th week of 2024. This information is useful for determining a tyre's age, but on its own it does not show how the tyre was stored, whether it has been used or what condition it is in. [5]
A manufacture date from last year does not, by itself, provide grounds for claiming that an unused tyre has already hardened or is unsuitable. Equally, a date from this year does not replace an inspection if a tyre has been damaged or stored incorrectly. The practical conclusion is simple: consider the manufacture date together with the tyre's condition and the manufacturer's recommendations. [3], [5]
What manufacturers actually say
Continental officially states that a correctly stored, unused passenger car tyre up to five years old can be sold as new, provided this does not conflict with local legislation. All the conditions of this statement matter, especially correct storage. This is a recommendation from a particular manufacturer and must not be turned into an unconditional guarantee for every tyre on the market. [3]
Michelin recommends having tyres checked by a specialist at least once a year after five years of use, and replacing them as a precaution ten years after manufacture. These periods are counted from different starting points. The ten-year recommendation does not mean that every tyre will necessarily remain suitable for use until that age: damage, wear or other changes in condition may require earlier replacement. [4]
AI developers also warn about possible mistakes
Google displays the warning “AI responses may include mistakes” alongside its AI search features. The company also recommends checking important information in more than one source. [2]
This warning has practical significance. A confident AI answer does not guarantee that the recommended tyres will suit your car. Before buying, check their suitability and, if in doubt, consult a tyre specialist.
Professional tyre fitting matters too
Even correctly chosen tyres must be fitted correctly. Wheel imbalance can cause vibration and accelerate wear on tyres and suspension components. Michelin stresses that balancing is necessary every time a tyre is fitted. [6]
Egzotika tyre fitters work all year round. In practice, they also have to correct fitting mistakes made elsewhere. So if you notice vibration or other unusual changes while driving, it is worth assessing the condition of the tyres, the quality of the fitting and the technical condition of the car.
When choosing a workshop, ask about the experience of the individual technicians and their working procedures: whether they balance wheels, check the tyre mounting direction and fasten the wheels according to the vehicle manufacturer's instructions. The number of work bays or how busy a workshop is during the season does not, on its own, tell you the quality of its fitting work. [7]
How to check advice provided by AI
Before making a decision, spend a few minutes checking:
- Open the primary source. Check the manufacturer's recommendation or the research document, rather than just a retelling of it.
- Look at which tyres are being discussed. Assessing unused, stored tyres is different from assessing tyres that have been in service for many years.
- Look for conditions. Words such as “correctly stored”, “unused” and “from manufacture” can fundamentally change the meaning of a conclusion.
- Ask a specialist for an explanation. They should be able to support their advice with the manufacturer's instructions and, if necessary, inspect the particular tyre.
What our advice is based on
Egzotika has been operating since 1990 and specialises in tyre sales, fitting and maintenance. [8] Our 36 years of experience in this field are complemented by 20 years of practice on racing circuits. This experience helps us understand tyre characteristics and assess their suitability for different driving conditions.
When advising customers, we consider the car's requirements, the driver's needs and their budget. We can explain the advantages and limitations of the proposed model and compare alternatives. The right choice for a particular driver may also be cheaper than the one suggested by AI.
It is worth asking the seller the same questions. Reliable advice should be verifiable, whoever provides it.
If an AI answer has raised doubts about tyre age or suitability, show it to Egzotika specialists. We will help compare the claims with manufacturers' recommendations and assess what matters for your choice. Make your tyre decision based on verified information and the condition of the particular tyre.
Sources
Sources checked on 10 November 2026. Manufacturers' recommendations do not replace an individual inspection of the particular tyre's condition.
- NIST. Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework: Generative Artificial Intelligence Profile. Section 2.2, Confabulation.
- Google. Get AI-powered responses with AI Mode in Google Search. AI warnings and checking responses.
- Continental. How to correctly store your tires. The effects of storage on tyres and section 9, How long can tires be stored.
- Michelin. How long do tyres last. From 5 years of use and Tyre age limit: the 10-year threshold.
- Continental. Tyre Age. Determining the Chronological Age of Tyres from their Date Stamp.
- Michelin. Wheel alignment and wheel balancing. The importance of balancing and the effects of imbalance.
- Michelin. Fitting tyres to your car. The fitting process and final checks.
- Egzotika. About us. Year of establishment, specialisation and experience in motorsport.
