Tire life
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: NC
Tire life
How long do people keep their tires? I just sold my 82 prostreet camaro. The tires were 27 years old and in perfect condition. I always armorall them never let it sit on Jack stands for winter when I lived in pa. No flat spots,cracks, etc. My 72 corvette's tires are 20 years old , perfect condition too. Runs flawless. My corvette tires are good year eagles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 224
From: Pawleys Island, SC
How long do people keep their tires? I just sold my 82 prostreet camaro. The tires were 27 years old and in perfect condition. I always armorall them never let it sit on Jack stands for winter when I lived in pa. No flat spots,cracks, etc. My 72 corvette's tires are 20 years old , perfect condition too. Runs flawless. My corvette tires are good year eagles.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,211
Likes: 4,300
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Eric,
There continues to be an ongoing discussion about the safety of driving on 'old' tires.
There are frequent reports on this Forum of old tires that look good suddenly 'coming apart' at highway speeds with various results… some pretty disheartening.
Some folks say the tire manufacturers just want to sell more tires so put age limits on their tires.
Other folks say why take the chance when you can see from the reports of folks who had had failures what the results can be when a tire fails.
Many folks say 8-10 years is about as old a tire as they feel safe driving on.
Regards,
Alan
There continues to be an ongoing discussion about the safety of driving on 'old' tires.
There are frequent reports on this Forum of old tires that look good suddenly 'coming apart' at highway speeds with various results… some pretty disheartening.
Some folks say the tire manufacturers just want to sell more tires so put age limits on their tires.
Other folks say why take the chance when you can see from the reports of folks who had had failures what the results can be when a tire fails.
Many folks say 8-10 years is about as old a tire as they feel safe driving on.
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
How long do people keep their tires? I just sold my 82 prostreet camaro. The tires were 27 years old and in perfect condition. I always armorall them never let it sit on Jack stands for winter when I lived in pa. No flat spots,cracks, etc. My 72 corvette's tires are 20 years old , perfect condition too. Runs flawless. My corvette tires are good year eagles.
Second...please replace them. You're pushing your luck with 20 year old tires even though they look fine. A very good friend of mine had about the same year tire on our cars (20 years) and when we were coming back last year from a car show his left front separated and damaged his fender and rocker panel. I immediately purchased new tires for mine because they were about the same age. Both cars (mine and his) tires looked brand new since they aren't driven much. I bet I only had 5,000 miles on my tires that I replaced.
Long and short...don't fool yourself on the look of the tire because they do break down with age.
Good luck!!
BTW....where in NC are you located? I'm in Matthews!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
I had a 6 year old "perfect" tire blow out at 90 mph. Never again.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: NC
Welcome to the forum Eric! First off...we need pictures of your car!
Second...please replace them. You're pushing your luck with 20 year old tires even though they look fine. A very good friend of mine had about the same year tire on our cars (20 years) and when we were coming back last year from a car show his left front separated and damaged his fender and rocker panel. I immediately purchased new tires for mine because they were about the same age. Both cars (mine and his) tires looked brand new since they aren't driven much. I bet I only had 5,000 miles on my tires that I replaced.
Long and short...don't fool yourself on the look of the tire because they do break down with age.
Good luck!!
BTW....where in NC are you located? I'm in Matthews!
Second...please replace them. You're pushing your luck with 20 year old tires even though they look fine. A very good friend of mine had about the same year tire on our cars (20 years) and when we were coming back last year from a car show his left front separated and damaged his fender and rocker panel. I immediately purchased new tires for mine because they were about the same age. Both cars (mine and his) tires looked brand new since they aren't driven much. I bet I only had 5,000 miles on my tires that I replaced.
Long and short...don't fool yourself on the look of the tire because they do break down with age.
Good luck!!
BTW....where in NC are you located? I'm in Matthews!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: NC
Welcome to the forum Eric! First off...we need pictures of your car!
Second...please replace them. You're pushing your luck with 20 year old tires even though they look fine. A very good friend of mine had about the same year tire on our cars (20 years) and when we were coming back last year from a car show his left front separated and damaged his fender and rocker panel. I immediately purchased new tires for mine because they were about the same age. Both cars (mine and his) tires looked brand new since they aren't driven much. I bet I only had 5,000 miles on my tires that I replaced.
Long and short...don't fool yourself on the look of the tire because they do break down with age.
Good luck!!
BTW....where in NC are you located? I'm in Matthews!
Second...please replace them. You're pushing your luck with 20 year old tires even though they look fine. A very good friend of mine had about the same year tire on our cars (20 years) and when we were coming back last year from a car show his left front separated and damaged his fender and rocker panel. I immediately purchased new tires for mine because they were about the same age. Both cars (mine and his) tires looked brand new since they aren't driven much. I bet I only had 5,000 miles on my tires that I replaced.
Long and short...don't fool yourself on the look of the tire because they do break down with age.
Good luck!!
BTW....where in NC are you located? I'm in Matthews!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Have some 6 yr old Pirellis that started making some trammeling noise out of nowhere; slowed down to 30mph they made it all of 3 mi before they started chunking. Got it home, parked it.
3 days later completely flat,,yeah they looked perfect too just did a 200 mi drive home
Tires are like heart disease the damage starts from the inside out
By the time you have symptoms its too late;perhaps then they were compounded different so they didnt rot so fast?
You got a real nice car...is $500 worth wipe out your car..yourself or someone else?
3 days later completely flat,,yeah they looked perfect too just did a 200 mi drive home
Tires are like heart disease the damage starts from the inside out
By the time you have symptoms its too late;perhaps then they were compounded different so they didnt rot so fast?
You got a real nice car...is $500 worth wipe out your car..yourself or someone else?
Last edited by cv67; Oct 26, 2017 at 01:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: NC
I should mention I drive the corvette about once every 4-6 weeks either around the block or to work which is 4 exits on the highway going 60-65 mph (20 minute drive). My 82 camaro I drove less. I am aleays easy on the car since its 45 years old and original drivetrain. Open it up on the highway for a few seconds ocassionaly to blow out the carbon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 214
From: Sarasota Florida
After 6 years, I replace my tires whether they have much mileage or not. When I bought my C3, the tires looked nearly new. They had been put on in 1983. Of course, I replaced them immediately.