Tire Age

[Rob72]

I apologize if this has already been answered, but I couldn't find anything in the older posts

I bought my car in 1999 as a driver, which I have been slowly working on.  When I bought the car, the tires were a few years old, but had a lot of tread, so I've done nothing.  I normally only put about 1000km/ yr on the car, light usage.  I spoke to a guy last week who suggested I should be getting new tires as the ones currently on the car are at least 10 years old and are no longer performing as they should

Tires look fine for a driver, have lots of tread left, are unique Firestones

What do you think?

[71chally416]

Are they dry rotted? 10 years is old for tires.

[purple1]

Good way is to read the date codes. Some new tires can already be a few years old.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

This says any tire over 10 years old should be replaced. Including the spare.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.htm

Dave

[BIGSHCLUNK]

IMO... look for dry rot and cracking on the side and between the treads. Keep in mind weather, sunlight, driving conditions all play a big role... 

I've been running Goodyear Polyglass on the Big Girl (my pontiac) as long as I've owned her. Which ia a few years over NIKKI. I check them every spring, if they look good this year I'll runem' some more! But she is garage kept. Aired up to about 45lbs thru the winter and only driven 500-1000 miles a year.  Now when did they stop making polyglass.... 

[dodge freak 2]

It depends on how you drive it. If its always in stop and go traffic at 45 mph or slower I would run them if they look good. Worst could happen is a blow out at 45 mph...chances are you be going slower then that.

If on the other hand you shake your head and wounder why some cars go 68 mph in a 70 mph zone as you zip on past them, get some new tires before something ugly happens.

[ShelbyDogg]

My friend and I were at a swap meet last weekend. He asked about a price of 4 Goodyear Eagles a guy was selling. I looked at the date code and said to him, "dont cheap out on tires, buy new ones, these were made in 1980, you'll crash your car."   

10 years isn't too old for tires, but they are for Firestone/Bridgestone. I won't ever trust them after one blew out on me in Alabama and the truck rolled over and over with me in it.

[bb71challenger]

Tires are the one thing I never gamble on. The heat here in the desert can dry rot tires long before they are wore out in regular driving. My neon usually went through a set every 20k. Mostly because I was too lazy to rotate them and by the time I noticed the fronts were going away in the tread department. If they are very old and something neat you might want to consider just using them to show the car and getting a new set for driving. Doesnt take much for a blown tire to totally wipe out a quarter panel or fender.

[dodge freak 2]

Your lucky to still be able to post what happen. Many people who have a tire blow out and the vehicle rolls over never get to post another internet message again.

Tires can seem like a waste of cash but they are under great force holding the car on the road, turning, braking. Those 18 wheel semi trucks have good reason to run so many tires, look around on the side of highways you can see the old truck tires that ripped apart. Those trucks don't crash thanks to all the other tires.

Our little cars and trucks have 4 tires, if one rips apart at speed you have big problems....even if you live think how much damage rolling the car would cause.

I like to see the government subsidies the cost of new tires for highway safety but that is getting off topic....but it would save lifes and cut down the number of accidents. 

[Rob72]

Interesting, opinions seem to be very mixed on this one

We just had a good snowfall (yes in April) so Yellow will be in storage for another few weeks, so won't be able to check actual tire age until then (great link by the way).  I did check the tires last year and didn't see any extreme tire rot

From what a majority of you are suggesting, ie. dont mess with your tires, I think I'm going to start pricing what I can get here

Thanks


R

[dodge freak 2]

Ah, if the thread looks good you could sell them for a bit of cash on E-bay but not sure I would-and I sell most of my stuff on E-bay but what if you sell them and they blow out and kill some guys son...yeah legally you be OK more morally I would feel so bad. 

[hooD]

I kept my original factory issued tires on my Cuda for 35 years.  Waaay tooooo long.  Even though they looked excellent (minus some rear tread) they kept me on edge every time I'd drive the car.  I'd always be thinking, what would I do if I had a blow out and crashed.  Not good.  Do yourself a favor and get new ones. 

-before and after rear tires