Goodyear RF are not that good of a tire even when they are new, after ten years the rubber has to be very hard - which means bad handling, noise and poor traction. If you are going to keep the car for years, replace -

 

I don't replace tires unless they are bald, or will not hold air. The tires on my Plymouth are 19 years old.

 

I had 17K on my ride and 8 years on the GY and it was time
to replace. I know it sounds extreme but those NASCAR boys
change their tires after a 100 or so miles and some times less!
OK bad comparison, still UV and rubber don't mix well.

 

Now I dont take this as complete proof but it makes 1one stop and think, or it should. Hey it's your family and you life.

 

The old adage of the man man falling off the 10 story build that was heard to say " so far so good", "so far so good".

There are people that don't buy life insurance cause they been fine for 50 years and don't see the need.

Yes , there are folks that can smoke all their lives and not get cancer ( but die from gun shot wounds while at the 7/11 buying smokes while it was being held up).

Or be like a former neighbor , that bought a 19 year old Kings Highway class A motorhome and without even having an inspection drove off the next day from Kalifornia to Connecticut . They had blow outs on all tires at one or two at a time . The last tire shop asked him if he wanted the from shocks ( that were dangling from the upper perch) connected.Yes he had made it thru the the trip east without serious damage or delay, but they were asphyxiated from the aftermarket catalytic heater on the westward trip home.

The family that did not turn off the faucets to the washer when they left for vacation. How many times have folks done that? But days later got a call from a neighbor who said their house had water running out the front door. True stories.




Yes there is always someone that can get away with an unsafe practice but its a gamble with the odds against them. Just playing the odds.

 

You really should replace old tires. As others have said over time the tires dry out and lose their stickiness which reduces traction. That affects all aspects of performance including stopping.

It is very important to remember that your only points of contact with the road are your tires. It's worth the time and effort to get it right.

 

The major car magazines have covered this subject. Moisture accumulates inside the tire. The oxygen inside the tire causes the rubber compound to slowly deteriorate. The tire rots inside. You can't see this from outside. Tires that are ten years old should be discarded.

 

Info on tires.
This was supposed to come with pictures but they didn't copy over. You have to use your imagination.




Contrary to popular belief, you can't judge a tire by its cover. Researchers and most experts agree that along with tread depth and proper tire maintenance, tire age is also crucial to your safety on the road.
This tire was bought as new -- it has never been on the road -- but was nearly 14 years old when purchased. Despite its deep treads, this tire's inside layers have been slowly decomposing and drying out, what experts say make it like "a ticking time bomb."
(ABC News)







Attorney Roger Braugh shows Brian Ross that aged tires have a higher potential for dramatic tread separation, which in many cases has led to tragic endings for unsuspecting motorists. Braugh says his lawsuits on behalf of dozens of victims have uncovered a pattern of corporate neglect and government inaction on the issue of aging tires.
(ABC News)






This graphic breaks down the various codes in the Department of Transportation's serial number for tires. A cryptic code of four numbers at the end of the 12-digit DOT serial number can tell the consumer which week and year a tire was manufactured. Can you tell when your tires were made?
(ABC News)





```
This tire's DOT code indicates that it was made in the 41st week of 1994. Tires made in the 1990s have three numbers at the end of the DOT code, while tires made after 2000 have four numbers.
(ABC News)






This tire is more than seven years old. It was made in the 13th week of 2001.. According to experts like Sean Kane, who runs a private auto safety research firm, tires older than six years get increasingly more dangerous regardless of how long they've actually been on the road.
(ABC News)






ABC News' "20/20" sent producers undercover, rigged with hidden cameras, to tire retailers all over the county to see if any old tires are being sold as new. The undercover producers found half a dozen tires older than six years at this Sears in Jersey City, N.J. -- some were even older than a decade.
(ABC News)








Aged Tires: A Hidden Danger on the Road?
ABC News affiliates all over the country did their own investigations collaborating with "20/20" and the Brian Ross Investigative Unit for this report. In Indianapolis, WRTV-TV found old tires at three tire distributors. This tire was made in the 31st week of 2001.
(WRTV-TV)







Aged Tires: A Hidden Danger on the Road?
In San Francisco, KGO's reporters found a nine-year-old tire, made in the 45th week of 1999, sold as new at a tire dealer.
(KGO)






Aged Tires: A Hidden Danger on the Road?
And in the New York area, our undercover "20/20" shoppers found several Sears stores selling tires older than six years. Sears says it is unusual to have old tires in their inventory and told ABC News, "Consistent maintenance, proper inflation and regular inspection for tread wear patterns and damage are the keys to good tire performance. For consumers who are concerned about the age or condition of their tires, it is recommended they let us evaluate their tires regularly, which we'll do free of charge."
(ABC News)






Aged Tires: A Hidden Danger on the Road?
At another Sears store, we were told that a tire made 12 years ago, in the 46th week of 1996, was perfectly safe. Sears said, "We follow an inventory process of first in, first out, and we turn our tire inventory an average of more than three times a year. We note that there is a difference of opinion in the tire industry...about the service-life limits of tires. The safety of our customers is a top priority for Sears, and we'll continue to work with all interested parties to push for a consensus on tire service limits."
(ABC News)

 

I was in this exact situation my car is a 99 and had 25k when I got it and it had run flats and man did they SUCK they were so dry and noisy and bumpy ugh they sucked!!!! I finally broke down about a week ago and bought a brand new set of Nitto 555's and WOW they are amazing compared to those crappy run flats that were dry rotted to hell. I put 3k miles on the car before I got new tires and those were the most slippery and spinning 3k miles of my life

 

rember you are driving a vette, odds are you will twist her ears a time or two,big chance to take just because the look good!