I remember when BF Goodrich Radial TA tires had raised letters that were white like these Goodyears. Of course that was before Michelin purchased Goodrich and began producing raised brown letter tires.

255 60 or larger are brown. 235 60's are still white. Tires in photos on friend's RR have been mounted less than 2 weeks from new.
Brown letters on RR are 275 60's. White letters are fronts which are 235 60's.

All 4 new TA's on our 71 Vette are 3 months old on the car 255 60's and are dark brown.

This is a common problem with these tires. Believe I now have found the cause, but not yet certain.

My BFGs were 8 years old when the right front came apart and destroyed the fender on my RR.

Tires are cheap compared to paint and body work.

Quit being cheap and lazy. Replace your old tires before your car (or a person) gets hurt.

the motorcycle world has been saying that for years..

To do big burn outs, but that's about it.

Check the reviews on suitable tires for my car, 8.55x15 was the original size w/ a twin stripe whitewall. I DID find a twin stripe J78x15, but it's not radial which I prefer. Reviews are pretty bad, from outright failure to whitewalls turning brown. I'll continue to monitor my current tires condition closely. I've seen what tread coming off can do to fenders and quarter panels.

I'm really not interested in modern wheels and tires on this car, pretty fond of it as is, even like the hubcaps, must be getting old.

Robert

Not a chance. Way to much info out there to make me trust old tires.

Good write up in Mopar Action.

http://www.moparaction.com/Article/Time_Bomb/Time_Bomb.html

Not much left in. 275/60/15 to choose from these days....
I imagine in a few more years, that size won't exist new, and if it does, it will be expensive.

The sad part you might not just hurt your car you could kill a stranger or a loved one. Just saying why take a chance on hurting anything but your Wallet.

Go on YouTube and check out the damage that can occur with old dry rotted tires - when a dry rotted tire throws a sidewall or ply separation, it explodes, it doesn't go down easy at all. That explosion will ruin so much stuff on your car it isn't funny. Check it out:

Tire Explosion

This does happen on street cars too -- just because it's on a rolling dyno isn't the only reason this did this. Look at how thick the sheetmetal is in the trunk area that is mangled -- not worth it in my book.

Tires are cheap -- bodywork and lives are much more valuable. Yes, stop being cheap................

Do you like to gamble? Most games of chance have the odds against you. Replace them! At that age they can come apart like a hand grenade. There are always the ones that say they are driving around on old tires, don't listen to them. At 40-50 mph you have four time bombs attached to your car... chances are you won' t get any warning before the explosion!

[quote=62maxwgn]On since 1992,can't tell them from new.[/quote

Tick tick tick tick... BOOM! Caution! You may not hear any ticking prior to detonation!

I wish I had X-Ray vision to see through tires...

I have 15 year old tires on my car and they look great but I do not trust them. I have bought new tires but just haven`t put them on yet.

Just had a tire blow apart, the tire was purchase new in 2006 and it was the spare tire for a truck. It was never used, it had full tread, it was on the truck for around 500 miles when I got a flat, the spare blew apart without warning at 60 mph, the tread let go whipping up and breaking my passenger mirror.

This was a China made tire. I'm really surprised the tire manufacturers are being allowed to make tires like this. Wasn't there major problems with Firestone and Ford years ago with the Explorer.

Time to start making these tires again in the USA with better materials that don't go bad in 5-10 years.

For what tires cost....No!

Would you use a 15 year old condom.

Don"t trust old tires,had a customer last year with a 69 charger in for service,told him he should replace tires,he say"s still like new I say dry rotted.2 weeks later he needs complete rt quarter,what a shame car still not fixed because of a tire explosion& hes sick.

On my cars that only see local driving I leave tires on them until they are cracked or worn out or have some other problem. But if they're going to see any highway use I change them.

Might as well change all the tires out...And don't forget the fan belts they need it too...And I would'nt trust those radiator hoses either...Don't forget those rubber fuel lines they'll spring a leak and catch fire for sure...

You get the point...Draw the line where you need to... Funny thing about old cars...THEY'RE OLD !!! Did you expect everyone to NOT spend your money for you did you ???

You can do everything right and still have a blowout,fuel leak,rad hose burst etc...

I've seen guys do everything wrong and get away with it for 300,000 miles... That's life... Look at your car and change what does'nt make you happy...Or let me look at it from here and make the decision for you...

Ultimately common sense will tell you "it's shot" and time to change them..

I didn't use it but when I was young I packed the same one in my wallet around for about that long................

And that old joint with it should have been used before it was that old too...