Do I need tires?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Louisville Kentucky
Do I need tires?
I bought a new set of Goodyear Eagle (OEM) run flats on 11/1/04 and I had 37,800 miles at the time. I just turned 50,000. It is a 98. The tires look brand new and the tread is perfect. Are the tires too old?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
sorry to say but yes. Unlike fine wine tires don't age well.found this to explain my point
How Long Does a Tire Last?
Carmakers, tiremakers and rubber manufacturers differ in their opinions about the lifespan of a tire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has no specific guidelines on tire aging and defers to the recommendations of carmakers and tire manufacturers. Carmakers such as Nissan and Mercedes-Benz tell consumers to replace tires six years after their production date, regardless of tread life. Tire manufacturers such as Continental and Michelin say a tire can last up to 10 years, provided you get annual tire inspections after the fifth year. The Rubber Manufacturers Association says there is no way to put a date on when a tire "expires," because such factors as heat, storage and conditions of use can dramatically reduce the life of a tire.
Last edited by oldschoolvette; Sep 30, 2013 at 04:51 PM. Reason: tech
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I agree they are too old and should not be trusted.
I have a set that is older than that and I still use them for winter storage on another set of rims. No need to worry about flat spots and if you need to move the car around you still can.
I have a set that is older than that and I still use them for winter storage on another set of rims. No need to worry about flat spots and if you need to move the car around you still can.
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I would not put tires that old on my car and trust them to keep me safe. Tires, especially if you go with non-runflats, are not that expensive so I would replace them and drive on.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Bristol VA
Yes, they are too old. I learned this lesson the hard way. In 2003 I purchased a 1995 (made in 1994) with 14k miles on it. Still had the original tires. Took the car on its first road trip and the tread separated due to dry rot and I had a blowout. Ended up with 14 pins and 4 plates in my right forearm because of the accident. My personal moral of the story? Don't trust old tires.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz Ca
Yes, they are too old. I learned this lesson the hard way. In 2003 I purchased a 1995 (made in 1994) with 14k miles on it. Still had the original tires. Took the car on its first road trip and the tread separated due to dry rot and I had a blowout. Ended up with 14 pins and 4 plates in my right forearm because of the accident. My personal moral of the story? Don't trust old tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
Yes, they are too old. I learned this lesson the hard way. In 2003 I purchased a 1995 (made in 1994) with 14k miles on it. Still had the original tires. Took the car on its first road trip and the tread separated due to dry rot and I had a blowout. Ended up with 14 pins and 4 plates in my right forearm because of the accident. My personal moral of the story? Don't trust old tires.
that sux
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
FYI- all tires, for cars, motorcycles, trailers, have a date stamp imprinted on the sidewall in a little rectangular box. In there is a four digit number where the first two digits are the week, and the last two digits are the year, of manufacture of the tire. For example, if it says 2310, that means the tire was manufactured in the 23rd week (June) of 2010. That can be useful to look at too when you buy new tires, to ensure you are not getting a set that are already two years old and had been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse somewhere.
Last edited by mrlmd; Oct 1, 2013 at 12:45 PM.
