I have tires nine years old, 90% tread remaining is it OK to use ?

StrayDog · 07-08-2005, 10:25 AM

I have four Michalin (spellin ?)all weather tires that are 9 years oldthathave been in my basement , out fo sun & ozone in black plastic bags & look great can they be used on my winter driver ?? will never go over 65 MPH........seems like a waste to throw them away ???????????? they are almst new have 90% tread left...............

Brianss1 · 07-08-2005, 03:55 PM

If they are not dry rotted or cracked use them like any other tire.No problem.

c4cruiser · 07-08-2005, 05:32 PM

Just read this article in a local Seattle TV webpage: Old Tires Actually some pretty interesting reading although it seems the auto manufacturers and the tire companies do not see things the same way.

Compounds in tires will dry up over the years and it typically results in the tire getting hard and losing some of it capabilities. The tread and body of the tire gets hard and cracking will result after temperature cycling.

I was headed to a car show a few years ago with a good friend of mine and his wife. We were on I-5 doing 70-75 when the right rear tire on their 65 Vette shredded itself with no warning at all. The tire was a Michlien tire that had been on their car for about 8 years. They typically only drove the car dring the summer and then for short cruises, parades, and club events. The tires had about 80% tread remaining and no real signs of cracks but the one tire looked liked it had simply exploded, There were pieces all over the freeway and the sidewall looked like strands of spaghetti.

The first year I tried a track day back in 1999 with my 92, it stil had the original Goodyear GS-C's. They were so hard being almost 8 years old that traction was pretty much non-existant. The surface of th track did a good job of tearing up the tread surface.

Personally, I would not really trust 9 year old tires especially if you did any sort of freeway driving every day.

AORoads · 07-09-2005, 08:57 PM

Call it what you like, personal liab., lawsuits, cya, but if you ask Michelin that question on their website or toll free, I doubt they will say, "Do it".

You can trust CF people, or friends, or whomever, but if it lets go simply because of age, I ask you: is it worth it? If you think it is, "Do it".

Me? I would not. It's not worth the wheel, the car, the people around that I might run into, and it sure as heck isn't worth ME.

Snuckley · 07-10-2005, 03:18 PM

Throw them away. I run Michelins on my motorcoach that cost $585 a piece x 8 tires. They will go 100,000 miles easily. But casual users like myself never accumulate those miles on their RV in the 5 year lifespan. yes the old 7 yr lifespan has been downgraded to 5 yrs. I carry no spare, run a tire that is not routinely stocked and do not want a blowout in a 48000# rig because I'm being thrifty. Back when I had to live paycheck to paycheck I ran my car tires to the cords. Now I replace tires regularly on some vehicles just to not loose the wet weather edge. ..be Safe

rocco16 · 07-11-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c4cruiser

Compounds in tires will dry up over the years and it typically results in the tire getting hard and losing some of it capabilities.

This is pretty much the only problem you will encounter using aged tires; they get a little harder each day from the day they come out of the mold and, consequently, just don't have the dry traction of a new tire. If you keep this in mind and drive accordingly, you will most likely have no problems with them.

Larry
code5coupe

RIISITAS · 07-11-2005, 06:52 PM

If the tires are that old, I would get rid of them. I've seen catastrophic failures on old tires my friends have had on their cars and trailers. The tires looked good with no apparent problems, then all of a sudden they failed, suddenly, unexpectantly and completely. For the price of a set of tires its not worth it, just for your own safety. I would replace them.

rws.1 · 07-12-2005, 09:51 AM

When I bought my '88 the previous owner was still driving on the original tires. They had a least half the tread, looked great... no weather checking... BUT had absolutely no grip. Give it a bit of gas and instead of screeeeetch you got zzzzzzzzzz
For his driving style he was happy. But i am a spirited driver and want to have tires that give me the grip that goes along with the handling capabilities of the car.
If it is a daily driver and you drive like everyday is a Sunday drive, you are probably OK with them.
Personally, I'd change them.

StrayDog · 07-12-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIISITAS

If the tires are that old, I would get rid of them. I've seen catastrophic failures on old tires my friends have had on their cars and trailers. The tires looked good with no apparent problems, then all of a sudden they failed, suddenly, unexpectantly and completely. For the price of a set of tires its not worth it, just for your own safety. I would replace them.

does the fact the tires have not been mounted for 9 years & have been in plastic bags & I was contiplating putting them on my winter driver..so they will not be driven on long trips or over 65 MPH, Just hate to throw them away but safety is a major facter................

HWoods · 07-12-2005, 11:53 PM

if you ever plan to drive at highway speeds replace them

StrayDog · 07-13-2005, 07:40 AM

I am going with the safety route....will get new tires,

still seems wasteful to through away tires that look so good.......anyone want free tires drop buy my house .............

the Dog

rocco16 · 07-15-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrayDog

they will not be driven on long trips or over 65 MPH,

For your purposes, they will be fine......

Larry
code5coupe

rocco16 · 07-15-2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrayDog

putting them on my winter driver..so they will not be driven on long trips or over 65 MPH,

For your purposes, they will be fine.....

Larry
code5coupe

zaragoza · 07-25-2005, 08:54 PM

I had some 9yr old tires on my DD Dodge Dakota that looked decent. I took a corner a little to fast and the right tire just collapsed. So my advise is not to use them.

cmeflyby · 07-26-2005, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocco16

For your purposes, they will be fine.....

Larry
code5coupe

are you gonna pay for the rim he ruins..or worse...when the tire blows?

i thought not

believe me, i'm FAR from a safety advocate

, but, for the price of tires and the potential costs incurred if one fails, i think running a tire that old is a stupid risk to take

StrayDog · 07-26-2005, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaragoza

I had some 9yr old tires on my DD Dodge Dakota that looked decent. I took a corner a little to fast and the right tire just collapsed. So my advise is not to use them.

I agree

i will buy new front tires for my S10 , the tires mentioned were on my 1966 Corvette when I first got her in 1995, Michalin 205 x 75 R 15 " , only have a few thousand miles on them , replaced with 215 x 65 R 15 ..........better safe than sorry

the Dog will get new tires...........................

rocco16 · 07-26-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmeflyby

for the price of tires and the potential costs incurred if one fails, i think running a tire that old is a stupid risk to take

Oh, I agree; it would be a risk, but the risk would be small...small enough to be considered an acceptable risk...and the fact remains that those tires probably will NOT fail if they are used in the manner in which he intends to use them.
Me? I wouldn't use them, simply because new tires are cheap and I can afford new ones. I also have never had a tire last nine years!

But, StrayDog's question seemed to be "Can they be put into service?"
The answer to that question is that they can, with little increased risk.

Larry
code5coupe