safety tire qustion
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 1
From: atlantic city new jersey
safety tire qustion
Having just posted this on the wheels and tires forum,i throught id post this here.I have an 04 that was made in july of 03.That makes my tires going to be 6 years old next july. Ill have 18,000 miles on the car by then,maybe 18,500 tops..............................Is it safe to say that i should put new rubber on the car,even if the miles are not bad.I dont burn rubber ,and the like so theres plenty of tread...........There is a rule that after 6 years old tires should be replaced, is this true with run flats ???????????????? or are they somehow a different animal??????????????????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 860
Likes: 3
I would not replace them until the tread was getting too worn - I don't think runflats are any different than other tires as far as degraded rubber, but Vettes typically are not out in the elements as other cars are, so I think the tires live a more sheltered life than DD's would...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,287
From: Central Ma
I thought it was more of a 10 year rule/advice, but I may be wrong.
I am in almost the exact same situation as you are.
One option is to replace now and sell your tires. Granted you won't get much for them, but it could help offset the cost of new.
At this point I'll probably wait until I really need new.
I have a vert and recently am driving with the top back up as the cold weather really kicks in. Beware that your already hard tires are getting harder, and add in the cold weather the grip is suffering even more.
These things are loud too!
Be careful with them.
I am in almost the exact same situation as you are.
One option is to replace now and sell your tires. Granted you won't get much for them, but it could help offset the cost of new.
At this point I'll probably wait until I really need new.
I have a vert and recently am driving with the top back up as the cold weather really kicks in. Beware that your already hard tires are getting harder, and add in the cold weather the grip is suffering even more.
These things are loud too!
Be careful with them.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
The latest advice coming from the manufacturers is to replace the tires when the are 6 years old. I think they know what they are talking about. As tires age, the rubber gets harder and lose traction. Also, you get dry rot.
You own a high performance car with a lot of horsepower. Besides the nut behind the wheel, your tires are your number one safety device. They are your only contact with the ground. Don't be cheap (foolish) with your life and other people's lives.
If money is tight there are several low priced tires out there that you can buy. Look at Kumho and Firestone (Wide Ovals). I sure people can suggest some other good brands also.
You own a high performance car with a lot of horsepower. Besides the nut behind the wheel, your tires are your number one safety device. They are your only contact with the ground. Don't be cheap (foolish) with your life and other people's lives.
If money is tight there are several low priced tires out there that you can buy. Look at Kumho and Firestone (Wide Ovals). I sure people can suggest some other good brands also.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles
Tires do get harder over time, and direct sunlight will accelerate that. If you aren't having any problems with traction and it is mostly a garage queen, I wouldn't worry too much about it. But sure, new tires certainly couldn't hurt you.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,119
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I'm no tire expert, just know what i read. But I have seen where one writer was saying that tires that are over six years old are getting close to the end of their life. And that tires like the ones on our corvettes are big and get hot easily, and the heat is what is dangerous. They say that you run the risk of tread separation at higher speed when they get hot and having a tread separation at speed could cause an accident. But again I'm no expert, just have read different articles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
There is no agreed upon "tire life", although Manufacturers would like 6 years. Storage and use makes a huge difference. Your tires are High Performance speed rated (186 continous mph) tires. Check sidewalls and between tread for any checking or cracking. If not, they should be fine.
Last edited by Oldvetter; Nov 5, 2008 at 07:15 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
I think you are safe and would not replace the tires just because they are 6 years years old. But that being said I replaced my runflats with non runflats when they only had about 5k miles on them and it has been by far the greatest improvement out of all the mods I've done to this car. Better traction both wet and dry, much quieter, and a much better ride.
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Cruising
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg VA
Go to NTSB.gov website and search for tire safety. I think this is where I found the USG position. Six years is it, then replace. Amount of wear isn't a factor. Bigger factors are time since manufacture and exposure to sunlight. I would also recommend checking that "new" tires be checked for date of manufacture to insure you aren't getting old, but unused tires out of a dealer's inventory. I've also seen graphics that explain the codes on the sidewall. That is where you find out date of mfgr. Use Google.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 1
From: atlantic city new jersey
Go to NTSB.gov website and search for tire safety. I think this is where I found the USG position. Six years is it, then replace. Amount of wear isn't a factor. Bigger factors are time since manufacture and exposure to sunlight. I would also recommend checking that "new" tires be checked for date of manufacture to insure you aren't getting old, but unused tires out of a dealer's inventory. I've also seen graphics that explain the codes on the sidewall. That is where you find out date of mfgr. Use Google.