Old Tires...again
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,496
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
Old Tires...again
We talk about this a lot. I came across this old picture of a tire that was on my 79 Vette when I bought the car.
The car was on jack stands, no weight on the tires, 30 lbs of air in it.
I heard a loud bang, went into the garage, and this is what I saw.
Tire was 12 years old, and did not show any significant deterioration issues.
All four got replaced immediately.
The car was on jack stands, no weight on the tires, 30 lbs of air in it.
I heard a loud bang, went into the garage, and this is what I saw.
Tire was 12 years old, and did not show any significant deterioration issues.
All four got replaced immediately.
Last edited by emccomas; Jul 30, 2014 at 06:28 PM.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,947
Likes: 24,705
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,496
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
Not sure what this means...the tires were on a 79, and they were not the original tires. Bought the car in about 2005, and the tires were 12 years old.
I had if up on jack stands to pull the wheels and take them to the tire shop. I didn't want to drive the car with these on it.
Didn't get that far.
I had if up on jack stands to pull the wheels and take them to the tire shop. I didn't want to drive the car with these on it.
Didn't get that far.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,496
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 106
From: Beamsville Ontario
Just picked up my new(to me) 2000 C5, with the original Eagle run flats...guy regularly used it as a highway driver...yikes!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,315
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
In all seriousness, that tire HAD to either be defective from the get-go, or was at some time in it's life, driven over an object that damaged the cord or a belt. I highly doubt age had anything to do with it, as you're saying that the tire simply exploded all by itself, while sitting there, with no load on it whatsoever.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
In all seriousness, that tire HAD to either be defective from the get-go, or was at some time in it's life, driven over an object that damaged the cord or a belt. I highly doubt age had anything to do with it, as you're saying that the tire simply exploded all by itself, while sitting there, with no load on it whatsoever.
AND, if they are runflats you could still drive it.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
When I looked at an '02 Z06 with 13k and brand new LOOKING tires, I checked the date on the sidewall and walked away. I told the salesman "I'm not looking to drop $25k on a car that I need to then spend another $3k replacing the belt, hoses, fluids, and tires". Yes, it was an amazing car that would have been totally worth it, just not to me.
Yes, the tires looked brand new and I doubt that car ever saw 70mph, but old rubber is old rubber.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 92
From: Lakeland FL
Nope
In all seriousness, that tire HAD to either be defective from the get-go, or was at some time in it's life, driven over an object that damaged the cord or a belt. I highly doubt age had anything to do with it, as you're saying that the tire simply exploded all by itself, while sitting there, with no load on it whatsoever.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,315
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
Any tire over 8-10 years old is liable to self destruct, primarily due to ozone or whatever in the air. This is not all that rare. Tires that look great from the inside can be rotten on the inside. I've had two old tires come apart, both looked very good from the outside.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 92
From: Lakeland FL
There are probably dozens of threads in the various forums on this subject. It's more of a problem with the older cars that don't get driven much-you have like new tires which will destruct on you.
With a newer car like my Z, the original tires got hard on me in 5 years and would break loose without any warning, particularly when cold, and they got changed out pronto.
Make sure you demand new tires when you do get new tires, dealer may try to put some five year old tires on your car. Check the DOT dates. MFR warranties are only about 5-6 years from date of mfr, not when you buy them.
With a newer car like my Z, the original tires got hard on me in 5 years and would break loose without any warning, particularly when cold, and they got changed out pronto.
Make sure you demand new tires when you do get new tires, dealer may try to put some five year old tires on your car. Check the DOT dates. MFR warranties are only about 5-6 years from date of mfr, not when you buy them.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
Point of all this is, if your vehicle sits outside in the sun most (or all) of the time, your tires will not last as long as if your vehicle is protected from the sun's UV rays, all other factors being equal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 92
From: Lakeland FL
The problem is more likely when a vehicle sits outside most (or all) of the time, exposing the tires to the UV rays from the sun. This is what dries the rubber out and causes it to decay more rapidly than if the vehicle is garaged and protected from the sun's UV rays. As proof of this, just look at the dash of a vehicle that sits out in the sun every day (all dried out and cracking), compared to the dash of a vehicle that's under some type of shade most of the time.
Point of all this is, if your vehicle sits outside in the sun most (or all) of the time, your tires will not last as long as if your vehicle is protected from the sun's UV rays, all other factors being equal.
Point of all this is, if your vehicle sits outside in the sun most (or all) of the time, your tires will not last as long as if your vehicle is protected from the sun's UV rays, all other factors being equal.
Now a smart guy will figure out some way to have his tires worn down when that ~8 year time rolls around. Now a smart driver would figure out some way to have the tires wear out at the 8 year mark. A few hot laps around Sebring would help that happen.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 204
From: Calabash, NC
Not sure what this means...the tires were on a 79, and they were not the original tires. Bought the car in about 2005, and the tires were 12 years old.
I had if up on jack stands to pull the wheels and take them to the tire shop. I didn't want to drive the car with these on it.
Didn't get that far.
I had if up on jack stands to pull the wheels and take them to the tire shop. I didn't want to drive the car with these on it.
Didn't get that far.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,496
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
I bought the car in early 2009. I did not check any date codes on the tires, I remember the seller telling me that the tires were 12 years old but had low miles on them.
On a related note, when you go to buy new tires, ask the tire store to write the date codes of all four tires on your receipt. That will get their attention, and should pretty well assure that you will get "new" tires.