how old is too old?
#2369224
09/12/17 03:59 AM
09/12/17 03:59 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,179 California
mickm
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,179
California
|
my front tires date from 05, 12 years old. they have 1/2 the tread or much better, do not seem to be cupped or worn badly in any way, and I can see no signs of cracking or checking.
are they still good? is 12 years too old for a tire regardless of how it looks? would you run them or get new ones?
Last edited by mickm; 09/12/17 04:00 AM.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369237
09/12/17 04:47 AM
09/12/17 04:47 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655 Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655
Cut and Shoot, TX
|
Here's a pretty good test: On a new or relatively new tire, push on a tread with your thumb and attempt to compresses and bend it. Note the feel, appearance, and how much deformation is possible. Do the same on the old tire. If the old tire does not compress or bend nearly as much, it may be too hard and brittle for high speed driving, and the risk is fender damage or worse from flying pieces.
If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: kentj340]
#2369302
09/12/17 11:27 AM
09/12/17 11:27 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
|
I recently removed some tires I thought had no cracks. Once off the van, I noticed they were cracked right by the rim on the back side. No idea how long I was driving on borrowed time. I would say if your not sure better to be safe then sorry. 4 tires are gonna be cheaper then body work, or possibly worse if on the highway...
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369310
09/12/17 11:43 AM
09/12/17 11:43 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 200 midwest
superchuck
On thin ice
|
On thin ice
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 200
midwest
|
My old tires had 70% tread, no deformation, and always properly inflated. Never noticed a problem, they looked great, up until one of them capped themselves and took my rear quarter out at 35 MPH. Now I need tires and a quarter panel.
Get rid of them old tires!
Last edited by superchuck; 09/12/17 11:44 AM.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: BDW]
#2369370
09/12/17 01:11 PM
09/12/17 01:11 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 732 Michigan
BlueRacer69
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 732
Michigan
|
Uuugh, you guys are killing me, Just looked at my tires, 10yrs old and still have 50% tread left.
From now on I'm buying the cheapest tire I can find, definitely will age out out before wear out. I know what you mean cnxt. My Goodrich T/A's are 17 years old and have maybe 2000 miles on them. So I just ordered a set of new Firestone Wide Ovals (not cheap) for my car.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369374
09/12/17 01:18 PM
09/12/17 01:18 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,070 N.W. Florida
Fat_Mike
master
|
master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,070
N.W. Florida
|
You'll get answers all over the place, but here's my second-hand experience: Several years ago my Dad's Ram 3500 lost the front tire while running 80 mph down I-10 driving from the Dallas area to NW Florida. His tires were 6 or 7 years old. He said he picked up a vibration somewhere in Louisiana, but kinda ignored it with the intent of getting it checked out when he got here. When it went, the tire disintegrated, completely and violently throwing that big @%$ truck off the interstate into the (luckily) grass. He was able to hang on and get it stopped. He's driven alot in his life, as a truck driver for about 15 years, and that rattled the $&!% out of him (almost nothing does). By the way, he lost an inner fender, headlight and some other small plastic stuff around the front right corner. Do what you want, but don't ignore ANY warning signs.
Last edited by Fat_Mike; 09/12/17 01:19 PM.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369401
09/12/17 01:53 PM
09/12/17 01:53 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880 -
RSNOMO
Moparts Torchbearer
|
Moparts Torchbearer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
-
|
Well, the evidence does seem to suggest new tires, except for one thing: these tires have been garaged their whole life, apart from the time they have been driven. So they haven't seen the usual baking in the sun and weather every day of their lives. (I ran a set of Eagle ST's for a long while that were 'garage and Tire Shine' protected... Finally had a belt separate... I think today, I'd err on the side of caution...
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: BDW]
#2369482
09/12/17 04:11 PM
09/12/17 04:11 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 16,844 Phoenix - surface of the sun
nomore65BelvJim
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 16,844
Phoenix - surface of the sun
|
isn't there usually some indication before it goes? Sometimes... just enough time to think...."what the hell is that...." I've had older tires blow out just sitting in the driveway. One of the rears on my F250 did that...sounded like a shotgun. Didnt see any cracks/splits in the tire before it went boom.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369493
09/12/17 04:27 PM
09/12/17 04:27 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
|
Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003
Salem
|
Flip to the next page in this magazine and there will be an ad for Radial T/A's. Brother. Send all your "expired" tires with 2000 miles on them to me. I'll wear 'em out since you guys are too Chicken to do it. While your're at it send your "expired" oil on the shelf and one-month old gas that gets thrown out on here too: I'll find a use for it.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: Porter67]
#2369532
09/12/17 05:47 PM
09/12/17 05:47 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,093 New Mexico
JMCFAN
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,093
New Mexico
|
The Radial TAs on my 68 are...old... now you have me worried...
If I drove it I would be really worried....
68 Charger 383/ AT Green/Green VT 70 Roadrunner 383/4sp Purple/Black VT
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369569
09/12/17 06:36 PM
09/12/17 06:36 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,275 fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,275
fredericksburg,va
|
1987 ford 350 box van, one original rear tire blew in 2000, the set now are 17 years old but I'm afraid of them so I'll get some new ones. Might have 4000 miles in them. My 2006 3500 Dodge truck came with Michlens, replaced those in 2016 because I got a good deal on take offs from a 2016 3500. They had... 96,000 miles on them, you could see the air in them they where so wore out and they where cracked up bad. Each one might have had five patches in it. They where 8 or 10 ply tires. I've always said the "rubber" of today is not as good as 40 years ago, almost designed to go bad so more tires are bought. If you have an old car and quarters are hard to find, tires are cheaper, don't take a chance. Besides, the old ones are easy to sell.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369573
09/12/17 06:37 PM
09/12/17 06:37 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,205 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
|
I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,205
Bend,OR USA
|
I use to jack up my Stocker and put it on jack stands so the tires didn't sit on the cement floor in the back shop out of the sunlight, that help keep the slicks biting longer than when I use to let another drag car sit outside in the sun on the asphalt driveway between races I can't tell you many tires on the car hauler trucks and trailers I've lost going to the races Way to many Sitting still for long periods of time is not good for anything or anybody Buy new ones now
Last edited by Cab_Burge; 09/12/17 06:38 PM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369575
09/12/17 06:40 PM
09/12/17 06:40 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,632 jersey shore
flypaper
I hate Texas
|
I hate Texas
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,632
jersey shore
|
i paid the price once i got a flat and the spare only made it a mile down the road... tires are a lot cheaper then a fender
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: nomore65BelvJim]
#2369579
09/12/17 06:47 PM
09/12/17 06:47 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,662 On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
amxautox
Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
|
Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,662
On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
|
isn't there usually some indication before it goes? Sometimes... just enough time to think...."what the hell is that...." I've had older tires blow out just sitting in the driveway. One of the rears on my F250 did that...sounded like a shotgun. Didnt see any cracks/splits in the tire before it went boom. The tire must have been dreaming about running over a curb or speed bump.
Tom
"Everyone should believe in something; I believe I'll go fishing."
-Henry David Thoreau
Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths
author unknown
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369736
09/12/17 11:11 PM
09/12/17 11:11 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
|
Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
|
Alright, I get it! You guys are right, new tires it is! Come on, Micky.... I put a set of Nitto 555 tires on my Charger in 2003. I heard many of these same horror stories and went ahead and replaced them with a set of Nitto NT 01 tires in a softer compound than the 555s. The old tires looked great outside and inside because like you, my car is safely tucked away out of sunlight other than a few times a year. These softer tires do grip better and this time, I may "age out" right about the time I wear them out.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2369853
09/13/17 01:47 AM
09/13/17 01:47 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785 Utah and Alaska
astjp2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
|
And just think the tires on my AIRPLANE are from 1998 and are weather checked but as long as I don't see any cord, they are legal to fly with...
1941 Taylorcraft 1968 Charger 1994 Wrangler 1998 Wrangler 2008 Kia Rio 2017 Jetta
I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: nomore65BelvJim]
#2369883
09/13/17 04:00 AM
09/13/17 04:00 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,205 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
|
I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,205
Bend,OR USA
|
yes but....are they legal to land with? Legal doesn't prevent harm, especially in airplanes My airplane sat in a hangar in Novato for several years before I got it, I have no idea how old the mains and front tires where when I got it, it wasn't enter in the logs by the decease previous owner I ended up flat spotting both mains shortly after buying and flying it do to not being a good pilot and knowing how to land that airplane properly and safely I replaced them with some cheap, legal mains and ended up replacing the front tire around a year later. Those cheap mains lasted less than 4 years before they started weather checking from sitting outside tied down for those four years in Hesperia, CA before I was able to buy a hanger on the field for it. That was a Comanche 250 that I learned to land at 85 MPH indicated with or without flaps, those long tapered wings love to float above 90 MPH I ended up putting a set of the best Goodyears available on the mains and they where still on it when it got total by a hail storm in Bend in the spring of 2006 What risk are you willing to gamble on? I have a pile of destroyed trailer tires that had the caps come off going or coming back from the races at 55 to 65 MPH, I hate having tire troubles on the road I carry three spares for the race trailer now
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2370026
09/13/17 01:29 PM
09/13/17 01:29 PM
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 133 Parsippany, New Jersey
340challconvert
member
|
member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 133
Parsippany, New Jersey
|
Just change them, not worth taking a chance on your life or car. I'm working on my A66 Challenger convertible that was in storage since 1984. At the time I put new TA radials on the car. Out of storage, they still held air, and had most of their thread. Good for moving the car around the driveway, NO way highway. Be safe and change them.
1970 A-66 340 Challenger convertible
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#2370032
09/13/17 01:37 PM
09/13/17 01:37 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
|
About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
|
I would just run them. The tires on my daily driver are about that old. I had them in storage for 7 or 8 years while I ran down the set that came with my car. I did 80mph with them on the way in to work today.
The considerably newer tires on the back of my wife's car started to separate tread from the casing. One wore through and just went flat on the highway one day, no catastrophic failure. The other one developed a super nasty wobble and I noticed the same tread separation when changing the tire.
Not exactly apples to apples but on our highway tractor/trailers we recently pulled a worn retread tire off a customer's trailer. The tread was worn but an inspection of the casing showed it was 17 years old and had been recapped 6 times and it was still in good shape. We have a trailer on our yard we use for putting around off-road only and the date on the casings is either 1990 or 1980 can't tell which. Saturday I had a job at Bandag, they recap tires for a living, google them. In the process we discussed recaps and I was told pass car and light truck casings are too light duty anymore to recap. So they don't as they cannot be guaranteed. I wouldn't run old pass car or light truck tires for anything more than getting it to the tire store for a new set and then only at city street speeds. If the are not so old as to be the old HD ones that could be recapped then they are a poor gamble and if they are so old as to fall into the HD category, they are too old for the rubber to have held up safely. But if you want to gamble with your life go ahead play polish roulette but don't gamble with mine or anyone elses.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: mickm]
#2371515
09/15/17 11:58 PM
09/15/17 11:58 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,680 Va. Beach, Va
69superbee383
master
|
master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,680
Va. Beach, Va
|
I had 10 year old BFG radial T/A's on my old 69 Bee. Garage kept, proper inflation looked perfect. One night the left rear tread came apart suddenly and tore apart the lower quarter. The cost to repair and paint it was well above the cost of a new set.
77 Macho Power Wagon LWB factory 440
70 Coronet 440 N code 3 speed
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: JMCFAN]
#2371610
09/16/17 06:40 AM
09/16/17 06:40 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,272 Northern Calyfornua
Sxrxrnr
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,272
Northern Calyfornua
|
The Radial TAs on my 68 are...old... now you have me worried...
If I drove it I would be really worried.... You'll really be ticked if you buy new TA's and find you now have not raised white letters, but instead the now Michelin produced raised brown lettering on the sidewalls. Last I checked the smaller sizes are still ok, but any larger than 255's will not be white.
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: Paul_Fancsali]
#2371782
09/16/17 05:24 PM
09/16/17 05:24 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,539 Albany, NY
67SATisfaction
The member whose name is actually Art
|
The member whose name is actually Art
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,539
Albany, NY
|
I just bought a new pair of Nitto drag radials and they have a warning about driving in temps below 15*F say they will crack FWIW - !! That's an important note. Store them above freezing if your winters are that cold. I learned this from a job I did at a Ferrari/Maserati dealership who was talking about needing heat in their tire warehouse.. I asked why? ..They said there is enough water content in some competition compounds they will freeze-crack when it's cold enough. - Art
65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76 67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23 67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd 82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle 75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
|
|
|
Re: how old is too old?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2372070
09/17/17 03:48 AM
09/17/17 03:48 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
|
How old is too old? Well I'm going on 58 and I still get up and go to work everyday. So I guess 58 isn't too old. Oh. Wait. What are we talking about? Oh yeah, tires. Sorry. I guess I'm too old.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
|
|
|
|
|