Check your tire dates!!

[Big Block Bill]

I am a firm believer in notifying customers of the tire dates on all vehicle inspections we do, and make it a part of EVERY oil and filter service as well. We just had a motorhome in last month with 28 year old tires. When I told the owner she needed (6) tires, she asked if she could just make it to Florida as she was going to park it in a park and not drive it from then on. I told her I would not drive it to Florida Lane in town here. Her response was " But the tread looks like they have a lot of life left in them"
People. Bill

[1967 4K]

Awhile back I removed a set of BF Goodrich Radial TA’s from a set of 69 XT wheels because one started a bulge out place on the sidewall. They were old but perfect thread. The tread is what most people pay attention to not the condition of the sidewalls.

[RALLY]

All great points. I did the same with my drag car racing trailer tires and my Suburban tires and went way over the limit for safe conditions. Yes 5 years on tires is spot on.

[GotGrunt]

When I bought my current Chevelle, it had some ancient BFG radial T/As on the rear, dated 1982. They had a completely different tread pattern than the current ones. The fronts were newer but still old @ 2007. The first thing I did was replace the tires.

[dustinm]

Originally Posted by GotGrunt

When I bought my current Chevelle, it had some ancient BFG radial T/As on the rear, dated 1982. They had a completely different tread pattern than the current ones. The fronts were newer but still old @ 2007. The first thing I did was replace the tires.

My friend still had those on his 69 Camaro until this spring. many 100mph runs with them, and I mean currently. Ive been telling him for 10 years to get rid of them.

I do believe the older tire compounds are better than any we have now, which have prevented some failures on older tires like these.

[Rsconv68]

Tire got air, tire still good.

[1967 4K]

I have a set of 14 inch 69 XT wheels I run on my car sometimes. Last year I put them on for a front end alignment because they had what I thought was a good set of BF Goodrich tires on them.
The technician noticed a separation starting in one of them. Needless to say I removed them when I got home and will get a new set of tires. Can’t remember exactly but they’re about 15 years old or so and always stored in dry n dark location.
Time passes and we’re all guilty of not paying attention to the age of the tires on our vintage cars.

[Northernforce]

Not only check your tires on your vintage rides but your everyday ride.There are no laws here pertaining to how old of tires vendors can sell as new.I expect when I buy new tires that they are 1 yr old or newer-shouldn't have to check date codes but learned my lesson.Two years ago in July 2021 I started searching for deals as I needed to replace my winter tires-better deals in the summer-I bought 4 brand new Goodyear Nordic tires that a big time tire place had a 50% sale-they work great-this past April when I removed them to put the summer tires back on I happened to look at the build date on the tires I bought new in 2021-they were stamped 2015=my bad for not noticing-lesson learned-
Keep on Cruising!!!
Dave

[EZ Nova]

When I bought my 1970 W30 clone, it came with a set of 12 yr old BFG T/As. still lots of treat and car runs up and down highway fine. I bought a 28ft boat and needed a trailer. Bought a trailer and the thing had standard "car" tire. When I put the 10 plys on, the guy said the tires were from the 80's. That was trailering over 10,000 that went 1hr each way to water, every weekend. Plus a couple 3+ hr highway runs. Did it ok with the the old car tire, but much more stable with the 10 plys at 70 mph.

When I had my 1961 Pontiac with a 575Hp 409 and 4 sp, I put my old McCreary dirt 60's on there. These were from the 90's. Ran it hard for 4 yrs with speed in excess of 100mph. ONLY tire the just "let go" was the new 2 yr old front, and only just driving at less the 30 mph. Only tire in 41 yrs of driving I ever had a tire just pop.

The Olds/BGF combo made 5 runs a rear from SW ont to Detroit. It's about 3.5hrs each way without an issue. I just don't see an issue really with these on "normal" drivers.

[black69]

I have to thank steve for this post. I am changing a few tires this weekend and on some of my cars. had some bad experiences, all while the cars were just stationary.

thanks for the post (wake up call)! Old tires/cracked tires are risky buisness.