NHTSA Complaint #10227940 — 2000 FORD UTILITY VAN XH

I NEED TO KNOW IF TIRE AGE AND "DRY ROT" ARE A CONCERN ON A TIRE THAT IS 8 YEARS OLD? I AM A PUBLIC SERVANT (PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE) AND MAKE MANY HOME VISITS. I USE THE VEHICLE PROVIDED TO ME BY THE CITY. THE VEHICLE (VAN) THAT I USE HAS BEEN DEEMED SAFE BY THE CITY'S FLEET MAINTENANCE DEPT. THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL ONES AND WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE YEAR 2000. THE VAN SITS OUTDOORS ALL YEAR ROUND AND THE TIRES NOW HAVE LARGE CRACKS IN THE SIDE AND SMALL (DRY ROT) CRACKING ON THE SIDES OF THE TIRES AND ON THE TREADS. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY 31,000 MILES ON THE VAN. I HAVE ASKED FOR THE TIRES TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FLEET MAINTENANCE THAT THE TREAD IS GOOD AND THAT THE CRACKS, DRY ROT AND AGE OF THE TIRES IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT IN THE MEDIA LATELY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF AGING TIRES. THANK YOU. *TR