9 Year Old Tires
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,771
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From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
9 Year Old Tires
Question: Am I taking a chance running 9 year old Goodyear GS-C's as far as structural integrity goes? They have half the Tread left.They are the fronts of my 96'.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Walton KY
Ask yourself some questions....was the car sitting for those 9 years unmoved? Were they exposed to the elements? Is there any sign of dry rotting (scale, white film, cracks) And most importantly....Are you willing to risk your car and your life for $400 worth of tires? Go to TireRack.com and get your VISA card out.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
I know that the Goodrich All Terrain tires on my truck and the tires on my trailer fell apart due to age and not wear. Had a blow out in the truck at 65mph (got the stains to prove it).
Age is not a good thing on tires. Make sure you inspect them.
Age is not a good thing on tires. Make sure you inspect them.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by CAJUN C4
Question: Am I taking a chance running 9 year old Goodyear GS-C's as far as structural integrity goes? They have half the Tread left.They are the fronts of my 96'.
Grip wise--these are bad news. Like ice skates. This will reduce your braking capability. It's not as safe, I would replace.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,516
Likes: 1,302
From: Windermere FL
Don't feel bad - mine was riding on the ORIGINAL tires. 15 years old! No signs of cracking and plenty of tread. I once found a web sight that tells you how derive the date the Goodyears tires were manufactured, but I lost the link. Mine were sure the originals.
BTW - Goodyears has $60 rebates going till Saturday.
BTW - Goodyears has $60 rebates going till Saturday.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: Hauppauge New York
My 91 is still sitting on the original gatorbacks (33K/Mi). Parked in a garage most of its life, but the tires are pretty dried out. Finally made up my mind to invest in some new Toyo T1-S, and now they're out of production until the T1-Rs come out in the summer. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 9
From: sonoma ca
Originally Posted by CAJUN C4
Question: Am I taking a chance running 9 year old Goodyear GS-C's as far as structural integrity goes? They have half the Tread left.They are the fronts of my 96'.
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 666
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From: Walton KY
I have had very good luck with my BFG KDWS 255/45-17 front 285/40-17 rear. Got about 20k on front with about 30% left before TWIs. Rears.....2 sets in the same 20k...no explanation should be needed. They are great in the dry, good in rain, and so-so in snow. Yes, I got caught in 2.5" of snow this winter...like driving a 3500 pound saucer sled!!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
I just bought some race tires (Kumho Victoracers) and replaced the original GoodYears. I have been using the Goodyears for auto-X and they wouldn't grip at all. It will be interesting to see the difference this weekend. Maybe I'll be able to stay with the Miatas. 
Rubber gets hard with age.
Rubber gets hard with age.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
How can you let the tires on your vette last 9 years? Try the pedal on the right every now and then 
Actually you said these are the front tires, which is understandable. This is why I like the 92 and earlier cars which have the same size tires all the way around. It allows you to rotate the tires front to rear which results in better wear patterns. In theory your tires won't last any longer... IE when you replace tires you will like have to buy 4 instead of 2. It takes longer to wear them out completely, but it costs more, so really it's a wash. It does help in this very situation though where you have likely replaced the rears many times and you just have really old fronts which could be dangerous.
Not much you can do about it if you have stock wheels. If you ever put different wheels on the car though, consider getting the same size all the way around. Your car will handle better and you can rotate them to keep your tires wearing better and all of them replaced on a better schedule.
Actually you said these are the front tires, which is understandable. This is why I like the 92 and earlier cars which have the same size tires all the way around. It allows you to rotate the tires front to rear which results in better wear patterns. In theory your tires won't last any longer... IE when you replace tires you will like have to buy 4 instead of 2. It takes longer to wear them out completely, but it costs more, so really it's a wash. It does help in this very situation though where you have likely replaced the rears many times and you just have really old fronts which could be dangerous.
Not much you can do about it if you have stock wheels. If you ever put different wheels on the car though, consider getting the same size all the way around. Your car will handle better and you can rotate them to keep your tires wearing better and all of them replaced on a better schedule.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Sorry, but it's tire time.
The oxygen crosslinks the rubber and it gets harder, losing its gripping capability...
Even without visible weathering, they are due for change out.
A simple test....
From a standing start, stomp on it and see how it hooks up...
Is it a tire smoking,smile generating EEEERRRRRRRRRRR
or a disappointing tire spinning zzzzzzzzzzzz
The originals on my '88 were the latter, last year before I bit the bullet.
The improvement in handling and cornering was incredible.
The oxygen crosslinks the rubber and it gets harder, losing its gripping capability...
Even without visible weathering, they are due for change out.
A simple test....
From a standing start, stomp on it and see how it hooks up...
Is it a tire smoking,smile generating EEEERRRRRRRRRRR
or a disappointing tire spinning zzzzzzzzzzzz
The originals on my '88 were the latter, last year before I bit the bullet.
The improvement in handling and cornering was incredible.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by CAJUN C4
Question: Am I taking a chance running 9 year old Goodyear GS-C's as far as structural integrity goes? They have half the Tread left.They are the fronts of my 96'.
If you actually want performance from the car, then get new tires. Old hard rubber is no good for grip.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Windham CT
The tires have DOT codes on them....
Most good tire companys have a web site and tell you how to read the dot code on your tires........ Rule of thoumb if they are over 6 years old, replace them. Its a big problem on Campers... The tires have low miles on them , look new, but are dry rotted from the inside as well as outside and your putting your butt on the line..... Plenty of good tires around for decent prices, even Kumo's will serve you better then old ones.
I'm as tight as the bark on a tree when it comes to spending money needlessly but you need good tires.... If your like me and most vette guys you play from time to time at the upper end of the speedo, you want good tires.....
Stay safe......
Swampy-CT
I'm as tight as the bark on a tree when it comes to spending money needlessly but you need good tires.... If your like me and most vette guys you play from time to time at the upper end of the speedo, you want good tires.....
Stay safe......
Swampy-CT
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by CAJUN C4
Question: Am I taking a chance running 9 year old Goodyear GS-C's as far as structural integrity goes? They have half the Tread left.They are the fronts of my 96'.
This is really a no brainer, if you ever plan on driving more than 35mph on dry pavement, or any speed on wet pavement, REPLACE them NOW.........
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
The 6 year rule is just tire companies covering their butts. No real world relevance.
Usage and storage conditions of the tires will make the difference between a 5 year old tire that's shot and a 20 year old tire that's fine.
Usage and storage conditions of the tires will make the difference between a 5 year old tire that's shot and a 20 year old tire that's fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Originally Posted by LT4BUD
Tread depth isn't the issue, it is hardening of the rubber, not necessarily visible cracking..........you end up with virtually no traction, especially on wet surfaces
This is really a no brainer, if you ever plan on driving more than 35mph on dry pavement, or any speed on wet pavement, REPLACE them NOW.........
This is really a no brainer, if you ever plan on driving more than 35mph on dry pavement, or any speed on wet pavement, REPLACE them NOW.........
