A Note About Old Tires
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
Too me it comes done to people don't like to spend a dollar on a set of tires that can save their lives. I know a guy who owns a 2000 coupe pristine 6000 miles. Original Tires. He doesn't what any one working on his car. On the other hand he obviously doesn't drive it. Last spring i changed out 7 year old Michelins with 5 third seconds because of age.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 111
Likes: 9
From: North East Pennsylvania
I was lucky when I bought my 2003 last September. The PO had just put Michelin run flats on 3 months before. He said cost was around $1500 with new tps sensors. Saves me a lot of $$.
Last edited by cwf04vette; Mar 18, 2018 at 08:02 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
To add to the OP's post, be sure to read the tire dates when you buy your new tires. Some unscrupulous dealers may want to install a couple of year old tires.
If you order your tires online specify you want tires that are no more than 6 months old.
If you order your tires online specify you want tires that are no more than 6 months old.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Florida
Just made appointment for new Michelins, 4 wheel alignment and 1 bad TPSensor. Sticker shock!!! Want $202 for 1 sensor because it's for a 2000. Thing that chaps my ***, is they're charging $30 to install. I'm going to argue that you're already charging for installing and balancing the tires, why is there more charge for installing TPS?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Just made appointment for new Michelins, 4 wheel alignment and 1 bad TPSensor. Sticker shock!!! Want $202 for 1 sensor because it's for a 2000. Thing that chaps my ***, is they're charging $30 to install. I'm going to argue that you're already charging for installing and balancing the tires, why is there more charge for installing TPS?
...each tpms (tire pressure monitor system) sensor take a whole 30 seconds to put in and torque...
Also, replace all 4 sensors because once one fails the others are usually close behind...just my opiniion
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Florida
The dealer wants $202 each for the TPSs. I got one for $155 at Auto Zone. I'm only going to dealer because Michelin has a rebate with the dealer that makes them the best deal in town. Previous owner replaced 3 TPSs recently, so I'm just replacing the non communicating one right now. At $200 a pop, I have to rely on them working. I think the $30 labor is for all four and since I'm replacing four tires, why should they charge the $30. I guess this is why I don't go to dealers unless under warranty.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 217
Likes: 37
From: Dublin, OH and Clyde, NC
The old tire thing happened to me when I bought my vette and had to immediately replace them.
Recently purchased a 2008 HHR with 20,000 miles on it from CarMax for a daily driver, it was the first thing I looked at and sure enough the tires were mfg in the 14th week of 2008....told the sales guy I would not buy the car without new tires or a credit, he went to the sales manager and he asked how I knew the tires were original, showed him the code, he Googled it and they put new tires on the car.....guessing no one had ever called them on that before.
Recently purchased a 2008 HHR with 20,000 miles on it from CarMax for a daily driver, it was the first thing I looked at and sure enough the tires were mfg in the 14th week of 2008....told the sales guy I would not buy the car without new tires or a credit, he went to the sales manager and he asked how I knew the tires were original, showed him the code, he Googled it and they put new tires on the car.....guessing no one had ever called them on that before.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
I guess I have a contrary view...
My dad's 98 still had the original tires when he transferred it to me 3 years ago, 16000 miles. It was kept in a garage, so it didn't see much sun. They were not cracked or dry rotted.
I hardly had a chance to drive it, so I didn't get around to replacing them until last summer. In those 3 years I put about 3000 miles on it, including several 200-300 mile road trips.
They did not ride very well nor grippy in the wet, but we're not unsafe either. The new tires are much better and it was definitely good to replace them, but in my particular case I wasn't flirting with disaster. Not saying that my situation is typical though.
My dad's 98 still had the original tires when he transferred it to me 3 years ago, 16000 miles. It was kept in a garage, so it didn't see much sun. They were not cracked or dry rotted.
I hardly had a chance to drive it, so I didn't get around to replacing them until last summer. In those 3 years I put about 3000 miles on it, including several 200-300 mile road trips.
They did not ride very well nor grippy in the wet, but we're not unsafe either. The new tires are much better and it was definitely good to replace them, but in my particular case I wasn't flirting with disaster. Not saying that my situation is typical though.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 274
During the 5 months I spent looking for a C5Z I noticed that most of the Corvettes I looked at had old tires on them. Many Corvettes are weekend toys and second or third cars for many owners and many simply do not get driven much. Most of the cars I saw had tires between 7-10 years old. That's too old for the street for any car, let alone a high-performance sports car like a Corvette. Forget about using these tires on a track day or autocross event. They simply will not have the grip they once had and, more importantly, their structural integrity is in question. The Porsche crash that claimed actor Paul Walker's life had nine year old tires and that played a role in the car losing control and crashing. Personally, I replace any tire that's over six years old.
If you're wondering how to find the age of your tire, look for a 4-digit code on the sidewall of your tires. It'll be separate from all the other letters and numbers on the sidewall. The first two digits indicate the week of the year the tires were manufactured and the 3rd and 4th digits indicate the year of manufacture. So a date code of "1608" means that the tire was built in the 16th week of the year 2008. It's a ten year old tire.
Here's a good article on tires and age: https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how...our-tires.html
Anyway, I don't want to sound too "preachy" but I figured every car owner/driver should be aware of this.
If you're wondering how to find the age of your tire, look for a 4-digit code on the sidewall of your tires. It'll be separate from all the other letters and numbers on the sidewall. The first two digits indicate the week of the year the tires were manufactured and the 3rd and 4th digits indicate the year of manufacture. So a date code of "1608" means that the tire was built in the 16th week of the year 2008. It's a ten year old tire.
Here's a good article on tires and age: https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how...our-tires.html
Anyway, I don't want to sound too "preachy" but I figured every car owner/driver should be aware of this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
That being said, as a distance runner, we go thru several pair of running shoes a year. Shoes with over 750 miles on them are dangerous.They cause injuries BUT look new on the outside. That's the same with old tires....don't go by looks.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
Completely different situation. Running shoes need to be replaced because the cushioning breaks down with use. It has nothing to do with degradation of rubber compounds.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 456
Likes: 144
From: Frederick Colorado
In checking the tires on my new car, I discovered that they are older than my marriage.
I have been married 16 years.
The prior owner drove the car 6000 miles in 14.5 years.
I am driving it as my daily driver; I have to say that a couple of turns where I gave just a little extra throttle the car was rotating a bit. Tires are somewhat stiff, although they look great.
I have been married 16 years.
The prior owner drove the car 6000 miles in 14.5 years.
I am driving it as my daily driver; I have to say that a couple of turns where I gave just a little extra throttle the car was rotating a bit. Tires are somewhat stiff, although they look great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
I understand that tires are a major expense but how much value do you put on your life? If you're a bachelor, go for it but not a good move to ride on old tires if you have dependents.
Older tires may look in good shape but you can't always see the amount of wear and tear that's inside such as rubber fatigue.
Older tires may look in good shape but you can't always see the amount of wear and tear that's inside such as rubber fatigue.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
In checking the tires on my new car, I discovered that they are older than my marriage.
I have been married 16 years.
The prior owner drove the car 6000 miles in 14.5 years.
I am driving it as my daily driver; I have to say that a couple of turns where I gave just a little extra throttle the car was rotating a bit. Tires are somewhat stiff, although they look great.
I have been married 16 years.
The prior owner drove the car 6000 miles in 14.5 years.
I am driving it as my daily driver; I have to say that a couple of turns where I gave just a little extra throttle the car was rotating a bit. Tires are somewhat stiff, although they look great.
And you continue to drive it on a daily basis knowing that they are dangerous?...
Biography..."I am a former Navy officer, a former retail store owner, and a former web and print designer. I became a geologist at age 44. I teach Earth Science to high-schoolers and give the best geologic history lectures of anybody I know."
OMG...There may be some rocks you need to research and guess where they are?
.....Now go teach yourself some common sense and get new tires immediately, you can get a brand new set of Hankooks for under $600...eh...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
In the interest of safety, isn’t it the same thing? Degradation from age vs degradation from use? I never heard of an old sneaker having a blowout and killing it’s owner. I think people tend to be a little too casual about certain things.