ABC News: Are Your Tires Ticking Time Bombs?

[a34]

Please watch this 9-minute video, check your numbers and share this with others.


http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I've checked a few cars that came into the shop, as well as the 5 cars we have here. Nothing remotely old at all

[crazy larry]

20 year old tires on my car hmmm

[moparmaniac59]

That was a very eye opening story. Kinda scary to think that some of those old tires are still for sale! One thing I don't recall them talking about was the sun. I believe the major player in tire breakdown/decomposition is the sun. Ultraviolet rays will fade your drapes, carpet, upholstery, crack your vinyl and dry rot your rubber. I think a tire in a dark garage for 10 years vice on a car in the sun for ten years will be in two totally different conditions. I've had old tires I know were older than 10 years that were fine and had others that I'd be afraid to drive on with "alligator" skin that weren't but 5 or 6 years old and it was I believe largely due to the sun's ultraviolet rays!! Definitely a tire story to think about & check into!! Thanks a34!!


                                                                   Matt B.

[craigsmytcudas]

i bought a 2006 dodge 1500 hemi new in july.   by may of 07 i had even cracking on all four tires i replaced them last sunday a cap was coming apart the tires were old but not extreme but still were coming apart ,i changed manufactures this time i think my tires were made in a barn somewere in mexico .

[duodec]

I've got B.F. Goodrich Belted T/As on the Challenger, tires bought new in the mid-late '80s that sat parked outside (usually car-covered but not always) in the Nevada sun from 1991 - 1995.  They look fine, they hold air, but I don't expect I'd want to use them for anything more than what they're doing now; holding the partially disassembled car up in my garage.

[4Cruizn]

Thats good info to know!!  Thanks! 

[Pistol Gripper]

Wonder how old my Sonic G60-14 bias-ply tires are ?  I'm betting 40+

P.G.

[matt63]

Checked the date code on my '95 Carrera's tires after wondering why they wore on the 2000 mile trip home.  They were 10 years old.  They say you shouldn't put tires on that are more than 3 years old and they should be retired after 6 years.
Live and learn.

[Ornamental]

That was a very eye opening story. Kinda scary to think that some of those old tires are still for sale! One thing I don't recall them talking about was the sun. I believe the major player in tire breakdown/decomposition is the sun. Ultraviolet rays will fade your drapes, carpet, upholstery, crack your vinyl and dry rot your rubber. I think a tire in a dark garage for 10 years vice on a car in the sun for ten years will be in two totally different conditions. I've had old tires I know were older than 10 years that were fine and had others that I'd be afraid to drive on with "alligator" skin that weren't but 5 or 6 years old and it was I believe largely due to the sun's ultraviolet rays!! Definitely a tire story to think about & check into!! Thanks a34!!


                                                                   Matt B.

I think you're right about there being a difference between a tire that's been in the sun for ten years, versus a tire that's been in a dark garage for ten years. Still, I think a tire that's been left in a dark garage for ten years will be much harder than a fresh tire, and have much worse grip than the fresh tire.
Not too safe either.

[ted]

Notice they show pieces of truck tires on the road side?

[a34]

Glad you guys think this was a good post. At least now, you can make a better decision on what you're driving on. I've got tires all over the board in age. Won't be driving the old ones at interstate speeds for excessive periods of time, just not worth the risk.

Burnouts though, are still fair game !!  

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I hate to admitt it but the tires on my ol' Pont are Goodyeer Polyglass.... And in nice shape!! I think they were out of production for at least 15 years (probly longer).   

But Goodyeer Wranglers ...           

Have had them on allot of trucks--- all with cracking in the tread area and around where they seat on the rim. I would never go buy a set! 

[Jacksboys]

Very interesting.  I need to check mine.

[ntstlgl1970]

Call me skeptical but, nice shock and awe story with no factual data to back it up. Like Ted said, (or I take it this way) what do 18 wheeler retread carcasses on the side of the road have to do with passenger car tires? SUVs are hard to control when a tire blows! Really?? no really!? Did they put that 14 year old tire on a machine and run it till it blew? Nope. I'd be much more worried about your tires being underinflated than the age of the tire unless there are physical cracks in the tread, sidewall or signs of seperation. Notice no government agencies were interviewed in this story. If they interviewed someone from NHTSA (the people that review these types of issues) then I would give the report some credibility.