Decipher tire date codes
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 765
From: Mint Hill North Carolina
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Decipher tire date codes
I am removing the reproduction bias ply Firestone 1" wsw tires that came on my '64 with new radial tires. They are in excellent shape, but before I decide to sell them I need to determine the date of manufacture for full disclosure to potential buyers. I have read Coker's explanation of how to decipher the date codes, but want to consult you guys. All of the date codes have letters preceding the numbers below, but I am providing the numbers that follow the F. Note: two of the tires are the same and have 6 numbers following the F. The other two have 7 numbers following the F.
F573318
F5733902
F5730203
Thanks.
F573318
F5733902
F5730203
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,277
Likes: 2,139
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
https://www.continental-tires.com/ca...wledge/lex-1-2
Save a copy for later reference or to show to the buyer.
Larry
Save a copy for later reference or to show to the buyer.
Larry
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 765
From: Mint Hill North Carolina
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks Larry. This is the same text that Coker has on the internet. So, the second and third one is easy, it's the first one that is throwing me. If you read it like the other two, it would be the 33rd week of 2018. The problem is, the car came with these tires and I bought the car in February of 2018. I did not buy these tires. The other way to read it would be the 31st week of 2008, but that only uses three of the four numbers. What am I missing here?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,277
Likes: 2,139
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Thanks Larry. This is the same text that Coker has on the internet. So, the second and third one is easy, it's the first one that is throwing me. If you read it like the other two, it would be the 33rd week of 2018. The problem is, the car came with these tires and I bought the car in February of 2018. I did not buy these tires. The other way to read it would be the 31st week of 2008, but that only uses three of the four numbers. What am I missing here?
The three digit date code for the 1990's period should have a "triangle symbol" nearby to ID this decade.
Larry
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 765
From: Mint Hill North Carolina
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Makes sense. From the paperwork I have, the prior owner put 2,350 miles on the car in the last 35 years. Always kept in the garage. These tires look almost new with no checking. Thanks guys.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,277
Likes: 2,139
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
I just replaced last week all the Firestone redline tires for my 1967. They were very lo milage, but 25-30 years old. Still looked good, but the tread rubber was hard and brittle and small chunks were beginning to come off the treads. It was time for them to go. Point being, not sure anyone would want or should buy these tires, as they have outlived their useful and safe life. I would scrap them for peace of mind.
FWIW.
Larry
FWIW.
Larry
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 765
From: Mint Hill North Carolina
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Larry, this is why I wanted to be sure on the dates. Even though they are very pliable and look great, I don't want to mislead anyone should I decide to sell them. Thanks.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17,571
Likes: 3,460
From: Fresno California
You are doing the right thing being up front with the age of the tires. That said, they are still of viable use to somebody. Bias ply tires do not come apart like steel belted radials do. So no real worry about a tire exploding and ripping a fender off. If they are supple and not cracked or hard, they are good to go. Steel belted radials, on the other hand, become time bombs after they get some age to them. Some say 7 years, some say much longer. I say it depends on the condition of the tire and situation. Many folks don't like buying tires every 6-7 years unless they are worn out. And, in my experience, the quality of rubber is nowhere near as good as it was 10-15 years ago, and seems to be getting worse. The 45 year old tires on my old Model T were in better shape than many 6 month old reproduction tires I'v seen on these cars. My high dollar 'premium' inner tubes from Coker dry-rotted and came apart in about a year, with about 25 miles on them. The tubes at the front of the car still working fine? 50 year- old units, made in USA. YMMV.................
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 14,727
Likes: 16
From: SF Bay Area California
Yes, I worry about this with my car, which has radials. The standard advice I hear is a 10-year age-limit. But I've also read that if the car has been garaged at all times, out of the sun, then the tires don't age nearly as fast. But I'm still probably overdue for fresh rubber, even though the tires look fine, without any signs of hardened rubber, cracking, etc. (And of course the tread is almost like new....)
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Yes, I worry about this with my car, which has radials. The standard advice I hear is a 10-year age-limit. But I've also read that if the car has been garaged at all times, out of the sun, then the tires don't age nearly as fast. But I'm still probably overdue for fresh rubber, even though the tires look fine, without any signs of hardened rubber, cracking, etc. (And of course the tread is almost like new....)
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 303
Likes: 25
From: Melbourne, Florida
I've got a set of Coker red lines P205 75R15 radials that look brand new BUT are 17 years old. There on bolt on wheels. I'm going to remove all and remount with new Rallye wheel set and put on new WW Radials. I'm scared of the tires coming apart on I95 doin 70 mph, a safety thing. AGREE with all previous comments that think the same.