Risk of using old (over 10 years) tires

[deuce_roadster]

I just added an album with 4 pictures that should make you think about running old tires, whether bias ply or radial. A friend of mine lost a 40 coupe due to a LR blowout taking out the filler neck and starting a fire. This was on the way to a rod run with a full tank of gas.
Look at pictures in my album MISC.
[IMG][/IMG]

[supereal]

Tires don't need to show excess tread wear to be dangerous. Sun exposure and the natural ozone in the air degrades the rubber. Unless the tires are shielded in the garage, or covered outside when stored, ten years is well past due for replacement. Even then they are on borrowed time.

[51 MERC-CT]

Odds are that this may not happen to any body else but it sure gets one to thinking about adding a substantial shield ahead of the filler pipe to possibly prevent this from happening, bad tire or not.

[Automotive Stud]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

Odds are that this may not happen to any body else but it sure gets one to thinking about adding a substantial shield ahead of the filler pipe to possibly prevent this from happening, bad tire or not.

Agreed, I've been thinking of fabbing up a shield like a '46-48 mud guard and attaching it to the fender brace and body behind the driver rear on my '40 after hearing about this.

[uncle buck]

Originally Posted by supereal

Tires don't need to show excess tread wear to be dangerous. Sun exposure and the natural ozone in the air degrades the rubber. Unless the tires are shielded in the garage, or covered outside when stored, ten years is well past due for replacement. Even then they are on borrowed time.

As far as storage goes, this coupe has always been garage kept.

[34pickup]

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Out of the 8 cars and trucks I have, only one has tires newer than 10 years. I will take my chances.

[Automotive Stud]

Originally Posted by 34pickup

Out of the 8 cars and trucks I have, only one has tires newer than 10 years. I will take my chances.

Agreed. I'd go broke buying tires every ten years.

[philipswanson]

Originally Posted by 34pickup

Out of the 8 cars and trucks I have, only one has tires newer than 10 years. I will take my chances.

You are taking a big chance, especially if they have been in the sun much. Then it's no longer a chance but a certainty.

[34pickup]

Originally Posted by philipswanson

You are taking a big chance, especially if they have been in the sun much. Then it's no longer a chance but a certainty.

I don't drive my old cars over 45-50 mph. I avoid 4 lane highways and enjoy the back roads and local streets. I have only had one blowout in 55 years of driving and that was a recap so I will take my chances.

[adileo]

I had taken my 39 for a wheel alignment and tire balance. A good mechanic read the numbers on my tires (which were on the car when purchased) told me they were out of round and 13 years old.

Ordered new set from tire rack for $320 bucks. I do feel safer at 65 on highway.

[Shu47]

deuce roadster, Not say that running old tire is a good idea but I am a fact based kind person. How old were his tires and what actually caused the blowout? Did he hit something, did the thread separate from the tire, what actually created the blowout?

[Krylon32]

Recently bought a 40 standard coupe that was built a number of years ago. I knew even though the tires looked new they had some age on them. When my guy took the old tires and wheels and new tires to the tire shop they wondered why we were replacing them. He looked at the date on the old tires and they were dated 2000. I then checked my delivery which had 11 year old tires and my 3 window which had 13 year old tires. They are all being replaced.

[deuce_roadster]

Shu47, when a tire blows out on the open road and burns up, I don't know how you would determine what caused it. What he said was that he was driving along on a smooth road and it let go. All he would admit to was it was over 10 years old and maybe closer to 20. Was running 32 lbs in each tire.
Another friend of mine recently had the RR tire on his 33 3w have half the tread separate from the casing (stayed attached at one end) and it beat the s**t out of his rear fender. This tire was 18 years old.
He ordered a new set from Diamondback.

[Ranchero50]

My '68 Fairlane still has the tires that I put in '91. Yeah, I don't run them above 35 or so and they still look like new (been inside all those years)...

[5851a]

We all have insurance, this is just another 50 a year over 10 for new tires. With todays texting drivers I would prefer to not have to pull off the road for anything. JMO

[Mart]

My tyres are quite old. It is very important to be alert and listening for any changes in noise as the car is driving along. Any sudden increase in noise level can mean a tyre is about to blow. It happened to me once in an old BMW I was able to stop and change the wheel. I heard a sudden noise increase in my Valiant and stopped. All was ok, it was just a change in road surface. Better safe than sorry.

[RalphM]

I run old tires, best solution I have is to not run any fenders, there’s nothing to hit if it blows!

[philipswanson]

Originally Posted by RalphM

I run old tires, best solution I have is to not run any fenders, there’s nothing to hit if it blows!

What about the 35?

[RalphM]

Originally Posted by philipswanson

What about the 35?

I guess I’ll be working on a fuel filler guard for that one!
I think the key to preventing, preventable tire failures is maintenance. Like on any part in an old car that can fail. Regular inspections and preventive maintenance.
A good pre trip can thwart a lot of problems.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by RalphM

I guess I’ll be working on a fuel filler guard for that one!
I think the key to preventing, preventable tire failures is maintenance. Like on any part in an old car that can fail. Regular inspections and preventive maintenance.
A good pre trip can thwart a lot of problems.

I think a lot of tires fail due to running hot because of too low pressure. You can't always tell just by looking at it or tapping the sidewall if the pressure is sufficient.