Just bought a 2002 vert with 37k miles. It's got run flat tires with date code 32 wk 2010 (3210). Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. Excellent tread all around. I realize they gotta be pretty dry although no visible signs at all. Would you run em or not chance it ? How about a short 150 mile on interstate ? I realize the best senerio is to replace them. Guess I'm asking how much of a risk of failure ? Obviously carhasbeen garaged it's whole life practically

 

I wouldn't sweat 6 year old tires, I'd run them until worn out or showing signs of deterioration.
I would bet if you continue to garage it they will go 10 years or more.

 

No they would be 16 years old.

 

OOPS, too sleepy this weekend I guess.
I think I'd still run them, so long as no visible signs of issues.
But, I'm cheap.
Throw some new tires on.

 

Yeah I'm recently retired so cash flow has changed otherwise I wouldn't hesitate on new tires. Brother getting married 150 interstate miles away next weekend. Just debating whether to take it or not. Tks for reply

 

Last year I replaced the same tires on my 2002 vert. They were old, very hard and lacked traction. I drove locally a few weeks and decided they were dangerous. Bought Pilot Sport 5 Michelin at Costco that are not run flats but they perform much better.

 

Dude.
how old were these tires?

C6>
"Wrecked vette now whatOk so I can't drive . Yesterday I got on it a little bit, lost the rear end , went side to side then the ditch and a $^^&* telephone pole."

 

11111

 

They need replaced. They are good until they are not.

 

Actor Paul Walker died in an accident in a Porsche Carrera GT. An investigation determined that the Porsche was driving on 9-year-old tires.

https://www.thedrive.com/article/518...rs-fatal-crash
"I’ve been to that office park, and I know that corner, and you can take that corner at 90 mph in a ******* Prius, as long as you have tires that aren’t 9 years old. In a Carrera GT you could take it at 90, one-handed, while sipping a Venti Latte"

 

Here is what you face. The tires are 16 years old and no dry rot showing.

While the chance of a blow out remains low the tire compound is going to be hard and grip in dry and wet will be reduced. Yes they could come apart as the heat from driving on the highway climbs and the rubber could start to fail. It is unlikely they would just come apart but if they do you will rip off a quarter panel or front fender if the tread cap comes off at 70 MPH. Think about a NASCAR tire failure.

Summer is where most of these tires fail too as hot roads and the friction generate high tire temps.

Short drives around town are less risk as they never get that hot but longer trips are where they generally can see an issue.

It is possible but not likely you will die. More than not if it fails you will destroy your car if it lets go.

Lots of people drive daily on old tires and few die if we are honest but is it worth the risk to damage a car, wheel or more due to a tire that is compromised.

Tire time lines are just general timelines set for the average life. Tires can go longer but generally few people know what to look for and or have the tools to check the tires hardness. So they give these numbers to be on the safe side of things.

I ran a set of speed rated tires over date years ago. I just drove around town and even then the Comp TA's got hard and lost a lot of grip. I never drove in rain but they would have failed there even more.

Remember tires are still made by hand. They are all close but never identical and can vary a bit. One ply only needs to fail due to age or how it is applied.

 

Owning a high performance sports car and being cheap about tires is a ticket to a short retirement. Seriously. Even cheap Chinese tires are better than 16 year old expensive tires. If you don’t care about yourself fine, consider them that share the road with you.

 

This was a case where they were on Cup tires that are really soft compound like a race tire. They will grow hard faster than an average passenger tire. In a car like the GT it needs all the grip it can get.

Race and competition tires age faster than any. They are not made for years but laps or passes.

 

Of course ya'll are right. New tires it is. Should I go the non zero pressure route ? I REALIZE NO SPARE ISSUES. CAR MAINLY DRIVEN AROUND TOWN BY 68 YR. OLD.

 

Look you can get a set of Nitto tires reasonable and just get a small compressor. Michelins are way over priced for what they are and you really seldom if ever get a catastrophic flat. Generally it will be a slow leak that can be aired up and then drive to where it can be repaired or replaced.

They will also ride better. Runflats are stiff and heavy. They are a compromise to remove the spare from a car for space in the case of the Corvette. They really save little weight over the added run flat weight.

 

I stop clowning around with inside TPMS sensor batteries dying and expensive replacements and use valve mounted ones which also report the temps on each wheel

 

Yes, forget the Run-flat tires.

 

Tks for replies. So far my research is leading me to the Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate ultra high performance all season tires. They seem to match my needs and are at a decent price point. Probably find em even a tad cheaper over 4th of July sales. Tks again

 

Oh yeah- will change out tpms sensors while I'm at it. One is activating a code

 

For your driving, go with the all season run flats. I've had 2 nails in my tires in the last year. That's just around town driving.