Check your tires
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta GA
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
Check your tires
I've had this car longer than any other Vette and had plenty of tread on the tires. I don't drive it all that much anymore, 2001 with 93K, and it does a lot of sitting in the garage. So......
I was heading to Chattanooga, TN two weekends ago to the River City show and doing about 90-100 on I-75 ....any of you who drive this knows that's about right although I usually keep it around 80......was trying to catch up to Bret who had gone on ahead of me.
So, here I go.....then WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP......sounded like the side of the car was coming off! Whoa! What the???? Pulled over and couldn't see anything.....radio'd Bret and we both pulled over.....he couldn't see anything either. So I got down on the ground and ran my hands over my rear passenger side tire.......
The whole inside edge of the tire was gone! I hobbled on to Cleveland, TN where Freddie at Capital Tire fixed me up with new Michelin's. Price was right, service was excellent, took very good care of my rims, and had me on my way again.
What was wrong? The Bridgestone's had dry rotted! Plenty of tread, no cracks, but this tire came apart in the heat! I had no idea!
Very thankful that this happened on I-75 and NOT on Tail of the Dragon! Check your tires!
P.S. won a trophy at the show!
I was heading to Chattanooga, TN two weekends ago to the River City show and doing about 90-100 on I-75 ....any of you who drive this knows that's about right although I usually keep it around 80......was trying to catch up to Bret who had gone on ahead of me.
So, here I go.....then WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP......sounded like the side of the car was coming off! Whoa! What the???? Pulled over and couldn't see anything.....radio'd Bret and we both pulled over.....he couldn't see anything either. So I got down on the ground and ran my hands over my rear passenger side tire.......
The whole inside edge of the tire was gone! I hobbled on to Cleveland, TN where Freddie at Capital Tire fixed me up with new Michelin's. Price was right, service was excellent, took very good care of my rims, and had me on my way again.
What was wrong? The Bridgestone's had dry rotted! Plenty of tread, no cracks, but this tire came apart in the heat! I had no idea!
Very thankful that this happened on I-75 and NOT on Tail of the Dragon! Check your tires!
P.S. won a trophy at the show!
Last edited by GaDoll; Aug 14, 2012 at 09:13 AM. Reason: added
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Common problem with vehicles that don't get driven. Tires age out before they wear out. Usually fail in conditions such as yours where heat builds up and they separate.
Friend bought my old camper years ago. I warned him the tires were getting old as in 10years+. He insisted they looked fine. He was on the interstate when one of the rear duallys let go. Took out the rear wheel well and one of the propane lines. Pretty much ended the vaca before it started. If you ever see a dually pickup with the fiberglass rear fender blown off, guess what happened?
Glad you were OK.
Friend bought my old camper years ago. I warned him the tires were getting old as in 10years+. He insisted they looked fine. He was on the interstate when one of the rear duallys let go. Took out the rear wheel well and one of the propane lines. Pretty much ended the vaca before it started. If you ever see a dually pickup with the fiberglass rear fender blown off, guess what happened?
Glad you were OK.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Oceanside California
While on the subject, is there any way to stop tires that just sit from rotting? Would it help if the vehicle was lifted on stands and psi let out? Would anything like that make a difference?
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Great points. I just installed new rubber with my new CCW wheels and noticed that my previous tires were a lot harder than the new tires and had signs of drying out even though they had low miles.
My car is a weekend driver and is not a garage queen, however as you point out, mileage is not the only wear indicator!
Another lesson I learned the hard way is to make sure if you order tires on-line or order a wheel/tire package on-line, that you request newly manufactured tires and inspect the manufactured date before you mount them! I found out, six years after my purchase, that the tires I installed with my new wheels were actually already close to 2 years old when I mounted them. The wheel/tire package was purchased in late 2006 and the tires had a manufactured date of December 2004! They were "new" from a purchase perspective, but not from a manufactured perspective.
My car is a weekend driver and is not a garage queen, however as you point out, mileage is not the only wear indicator!
Another lesson I learned the hard way is to make sure if you order tires on-line or order a wheel/tire package on-line, that you request newly manufactured tires and inspect the manufactured date before you mount them! I found out, six years after my purchase, that the tires I installed with my new wheels were actually already close to 2 years old when I mounted them. The wheel/tire package was purchased in late 2006 and the tires had a manufactured date of December 2004! They were "new" from a purchase perspective, but not from a manufactured perspective.
Last edited by MSG C5; Aug 14, 2012 at 12:21 PM.
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There are a few tricks you can perform if the car is stored for the winter, etc., however the rubber compound breaks down and hardens over time regardless of the miles. Driving the car is actually good for the tires because it heats them up which helps prevent the rubber from hardening and breaking down. However, most people who drive on the tires will then need to replace the tires due to wear vs. age so they never notice.
Team Owner
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I use Superior Tire and Interior dressing myself. But nothing is fool proof.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: King George VA
+ 1 on the tire gel. I keep a thick tire shine on my tires and park the car on the some 24x24" squares of super thick carpet to keep the dreaded flat spots at bay. Definitely, checking tires is one of the most important things, IMO.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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From: Bmore Maryland
Another lesson I learned the hard way is to make sure if you order tires on-line or order a wheel/tire package on-line, that you request newly manufactured tires and inspect the manufactured date before you mount them! I found out, six years after my purchase, that the tires I installed with my new wheels were actually already close to 2 years old when I mounted them. The wheel/tire package was purchased in late 2006 and the tires had a manufactured date of December 2004! They were "new" from a purchase perspective, but not from a manufactured perspective.
Always ask when the tire(s) were manufactured. Here is how you can tell the date of manufacture. Look for the DOT numbers on the side of the tire, typically on the inside sidewall. It is normally the last four digits. First two digits are the "week manufactured" and the last two digits are the "year manufactured". In the photo below the 2708 ,means it was manufactured in the 27th week of 2008.
Last edited by meflyfrc; Aug 14, 2012 at 04:35 PM.
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Glad you are OK, going those speeds and having a tire blow can be a 
moment.
moment.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: oregon
had this happen the other day on one of my work vans. tires were dated 2001 and one just came apart, looked like someone peeled the tread off, same deal, whomp, whomp, whomp, pull over, think oh ****. luckily i was about 500 feet from discount tire when this happened. i drove there about 2mph, got a new pair of tires and was on my way
7-8 years really should be the max service life. by 10 years the danger factor is high. if this happens when you're doing a 120mph fun run on the back road it could end very badly
i never run sports car tires past 4 years personally. performance goes down after 2-3 from aging
7-8 years really should be the max service life. by 10 years the danger factor is high. if this happens when you're doing a 120mph fun run on the back road it could end very badly
i never run sports car tires past 4 years personally. performance goes down after 2-3 from aging
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
This whole tire situation is a rip off. They are intentionally manufacturing tires not to last. Years ago you didn't have this problem. Cars would sit for years and the tires were still good. Never saw a tire fail due to age back then. Be glad if you don't have a motorcycle , your lucky if you get six thousand miles out of them. My Harley has 4k. and they said new tire for next inspection and I'm easy on them. Rediculous !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Vancouver B.C.
This whole tire situation is a rip off. They are intentionally manufacturing tires not to last. Years ago you didn't have this problem. Cars would sit for years and the tires were still good. Never saw a tire fail due to age back then. Be glad if you don't have a motorcycle , your lucky if you get six thousand miles out of them. My Harley has 4k. and they said new tire for next inspection and I'm easy on them. Rediculous !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Vancouver B.C.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,066
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From: Atlanta GA
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
Thanks for all the tips and replies! The tires had 16K on them when I bought the car 3 years ago. It was time to replace them. I'm taking the baby out at least once a week from now on.
Thanks again everyone!
Thanks again everyone!