10 year old tires
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Braidwood Il.
10 year old tires
I have a set of run flats on my vette that came with the car new, its a 98 coupe with 23k miles. They look good yet but they most likley should be replaced. My wife says no but I think that its more of a safety concern and there 10 years old.
Let me know what you guys think.
Let me know what you guys think.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 2
From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Unless your on tight budget, I would replace them. They have to be hard as nails and noisy as hell. As far as safety, I would trust them for steet driving as long as they are visually sound. Meaning they have no sidewall cracking and the tread is good.
Mike v
Mike v
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Personally, if I were you, I'd replace them with Michelin A/S ZP's. You wouldn't believe the difference in road noise and ride that would result for you, plus a huge difference in traction and handling.
Ed
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
I am no expert but on regular tires the rubber dries out and they can begin to crack on the side walls. I had some Michelins go bad like that and they still had a lot of tread left. They were regular street tires not high performance or rfs.
The run flats have such thick side walls and they can run at zero pressure anyway so it probably isn't an issue. I don't think rf sidewalls will crack. I bet they are getting noisy though?
Also, they may have lost some of the speed rating if they are pretty old and drying. I wouldn't recommend testing the speed rating.
The run flats have such thick side walls and they can run at zero pressure anyway so it probably isn't an issue. I don't think rf sidewalls will crack. I bet they are getting noisy though?
Also, they may have lost some of the speed rating if they are pretty old and drying. I wouldn't recommend testing the speed rating.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 2
From: San Diego CA
Most tire manufacturers claim a 7 year life on tires, regardless of tread.....
I'm sure that is a general estimate for liability reasons and that means it is a very safe estimate.....
Plus it doesn't take into account tire care, ie. stored in a garage not absorbing sun and weather.....
If you are going to be doing real aggressive driving, I would probably replace them.
I just replaced a set of 10 year old tires on a car I store outside in the sun & weather. They still looked good, but it's my trip car and I didn't want to find out they went bad at 75MPH on a freeway. Besides, all four for that car were $450.00
But if you WANT new tires on your vette, tell your wife about the 7 year rule.....
Good Luck....
I'm sure that is a general estimate for liability reasons and that means it is a very safe estimate.....
Plus it doesn't take into account tire care, ie. stored in a garage not absorbing sun and weather.....
If you are going to be doing real aggressive driving, I would probably replace them.
I just replaced a set of 10 year old tires on a car I store outside in the sun & weather. They still looked good, but it's my trip car and I didn't want to find out they went bad at 75MPH on a freeway. Besides, all four for that car were $450.00
But if you WANT new tires on your vette, tell your wife about the 7 year rule.....
Good Luck....
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I value performance.
I would change them.
If you giv eit a lot of gas what do your hear?
SCREEEEECH
or
ZZZZZZZZZ
If the former the tires are still sticky enough
IF the later they are too hard
I would change them.
If you giv eit a lot of gas what do your hear?
SCREEEEECH
or
ZZZZZZZZZ
If the former the tires are still sticky enough
IF the later they are too hard
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
Doesn't sound like you drive her much, but the noise factor alone would sway me to new. Good luck w/the decision.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I would go with new tires NOW. The chances are pretty good that there are enough cracks and dried out areas that a short run down the freeway would create enough heat in the tires to cause a tire to come apart.
It's not worth the chance of risking a tire failure that could result in a loss of control.
It's not worth the chance of risking a tire failure that could result in a loss of control.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
At the very least I'd take a look at the inside tire wall to make sure its not cracked. They may look a lot different than the outside face.
10 yrs is a long time for tires, they do beak down.
10 yrs is a long time for tires, they do beak down.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
Replace em, there is a good selection of non-runflats out there for < $1k. Your tires are the most inmportant part of your suspension and ten year old tires do represent a potential safety hazard, especially on a performance car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you have had tires on your car for 10 years, I think you got your money's worth, whether they still have tread or not.
Everything I have read says tire carcasses are only designed for 3-4 years, so I would be worried about a blow out with no warning, even if you do not see any visable cracks on the outside. If you see cracks, they are rotten and you have gone beyond what I would consider safe.
Everything I have read says tire carcasses are only designed for 3-4 years, so I would be worried about a blow out with no warning, even if you do not see any visable cracks on the outside. If you see cracks, they are rotten and you have gone beyond what I would consider safe.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
You can replace them now on your own terms or wait until you are stranded on the side of the hwy and replace them on someone else's terms... seriously, for your own safety and those you share the road with- replace them. Even new (never used) tires sitting on a shelf for 10 years are questionable at best.
The local news ran an investigative report on "old" new tires, ones sitting on stores shelves for more than 5+ years. Every tire "expert" they spoke with claimed that they were too old be sold as new tires and questioned their safety and reliability.
The local news ran an investigative report on "old" new tires, ones sitting on stores shelves for more than 5+ years. Every tire "expert" they spoke with claimed that they were too old be sold as new tires and questioned their safety and reliability.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,043
Likes: 9,807
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
You should change them now. Check out this 9 minute ABC news video if you want to see why: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 2
From: San Diego CA
You should change them now. Check out this 9 minute ABC news video if you want to see why: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
Bill
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
You should change them now. Check out this 9 minute ABC news video if you want to see why: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
Bill
Bill
I knew I recently heard something about replacing old tires. 10 years is a long time. Besides tire technology is constantly improving and just about any tire you buy now will be a better tire.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
What style of driving.............
Some one mentioned that with 23,000 miles you must not drive it very hard. Well a 1/4 mile at a time would be driving it hard to me.
Problem is that the polymers in the rubber compound dry out ( even sitting on the store shelf). Normally as the tire is used the motion ( which in the trade we call 'blooming") causes these polymers and waxes to migrate to the surface and in turn protect the tire from ozone , UV ray and oxygen. This is a common problem with 'garage queens'.
If you have ever used a 'tire dressing' (other than 303 AeroSpace or a water based dressing) damage has occurred from their use, as most are petroleum or silicone based or combinations of both. Silicone itself is inhert but additives such as solvents , formaldehyde, alkaine acids , eythelene gycol or bleach that will eat the polymers and cause accelerated drying and cracking.
Not all tire wear is apparent from the outside. And we are not talking about the tires on grand dad's toyota, but specialty tires on a super car. Like my 22.5 motorcoach tires ( six of them) that I change every five years at $300 a pop, its insurance.
Problem is that the polymers in the rubber compound dry out ( even sitting on the store shelf). Normally as the tire is used the motion ( which in the trade we call 'blooming") causes these polymers and waxes to migrate to the surface and in turn protect the tire from ozone , UV ray and oxygen. This is a common problem with 'garage queens'.
If you have ever used a 'tire dressing' (other than 303 AeroSpace or a water based dressing) damage has occurred from their use, as most are petroleum or silicone based or combinations of both. Silicone itself is inhert but additives such as solvents , formaldehyde, alkaine acids , eythelene gycol or bleach that will eat the polymers and cause accelerated drying and cracking.
Not all tire wear is apparent from the outside. And we are not talking about the tires on grand dad's toyota, but specialty tires on a super car. Like my 22.5 motorcoach tires ( six of them) that I change every five years at $300 a pop, its insurance.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 537
Likes: 1
From: Elkton MD
In 1980, I purchased a brand new L-82 Corvette. In 1990, I sold it to my cousin with 10,000 miles on it and with the factory original Goodyear GT's still looking brand new. (the car was driven only in good weather and was garaged the entire ten years)
Three months ago, my cousin, who also only drove the vette in good weather, and garaged it as well, sold the vette to another local man (an elderly gentlemen, well...... older than me
) with 16,000 total miles on it. It still had the ORIGINAL GOODYEAR GT TIRES ON IT and THEY STILL LOOKED NEW. These tires are now 28 years old.
I was recently talking to the elderly gentlemen who purchased it, (the current owner) and mentioned that the tires on it were the factory original tires and should be replaced. He told me that "they still look like new tires and the ride is just great". He said that since he is just going to ride around town in it, he's not to worried about a blow-out.
I guess to each his own.
Barry
Three months ago, my cousin, who also only drove the vette in good weather, and garaged it as well, sold the vette to another local man (an elderly gentlemen, well...... older than me
) with 16,000 total miles on it. It still had the ORIGINAL GOODYEAR GT TIRES ON IT and THEY STILL LOOKED NEW. These tires are now 28 years old. I was recently talking to the elderly gentlemen who purchased it, (the current owner) and mentioned that the tires on it were the factory original tires and should be replaced. He told me that "they still look like new tires and the ride is just great". He said that since he is just going to ride around town in it, he's not to worried about a blow-out.
I guess to each his own.
Barry