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.

[34pickup]

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 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.

[Automotive Stud]

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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.

[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!

[Ken/Alabama]

Just this month at the Tri-Five nationals in Bowling Green Ky a Gentleman lost his life after the 55 Chevy he was driving wound up on its roof on I-65 tossing him from the car. Cause was determined to be a blowout from outdated tires. So sad.

[RalphM]

But I am smart enough to have seatbelts!

[Kurt in NJ]

In the early 80s we got a 46 ton and half truck, it had original tires on it, bald to the cord, went to the local recapper, he took a look at the tires, saw "s4"-- nylon cord, said no problem, full core values, they got recapped and sold, after using the truck for 10 years we sold it to a guy moving a airplane coast to coast, he made it in 4 days, I don't think he drove slow

So it would be interesting to know--- were they tubeless mounted on original rims???

[Jack E/NJ]

Mart>>>My tyres are quite old. It is very important to be alert and listening for any changes in noise>>>


This. Even a sidewall bubble on a bias or radial gives a warning. And can happen on a new tire on a curb hit. Don't get too comfy with brand new tires either.



Jack E/NJ

[hotcoupe]

were they tubeless mounted on original rims???
Kurt in NJ is offline Report Post
I think this is the most important question.
Tom

[paul2748]

I can't believe those guys that say I'll take my chances.

[deuce_roadster]

hotcoupe, No they were NOT original 16" wheels but late model 15" wheels. There is a picture of the LR wheel in my album MISC.

[Gene1949]

Quite frankly I'm appalled at some of the irresponsible comments in this thread. It isn't just about "me me me", it reflects on all of us.

Endangering the lives of your fellow old car enthusiasts AND THEIR FAMILIES doesn't seem entirely reasonable especially from people who SHOULD AND PROBABLY DO know better.

Spending many 1,000s of dollars on engines, paint and upholstery only to jeopardize that investment over a $500 dollar bill spent on the single most important piece of safety equipment [tires]?? Really??

[deuce_roadster]

Gene1949, Right on, the owner of the burned up coupe had his wife and grandson in the car and luckily, everyone got out safely.

[RalphM]

That’s more like a $1500 bill to ship tires to Alaska. Unless you go with modern = ugly tires, that are available, then it’s only $1000. Ever since the US post office stopped letting you mail tires here. UPS/ Fedex rape you on freight.

[A bones]

Originally Posted by paul2748

I can't believe those guys that say I'll take my chances.

Yeah not to call anyone out,,, but,,, it ( tire failure ) happens all the time to regular cars.

I used to teach safety courses. One thought that I came up with is simple, 'Some injuries last for a lifetime'. If you check out the pictures in deuce roadster's Misc pic file you see the face of a man that really wants to cry.

Hey 'deuce roadster' thanks for sharing those valuable pics.
I have six cars sitting, none pass the date test. I can promise I'll never drive them on anything other than new tires.


!!!

[deuce_roadster]

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A bones, If making people aware of what old tires can do prevents 1 loss or tragedy, then I am happy. I used to be the designated safety person for the 21s floor of a high rise in Seattle and the topic is always on my mind. (was trained as a combat medic 1970-1976)

[itslow]

Originally Posted by Gene1949

Quite frankly I'm appalled at some of the irresponsible comments in this thread. It isn't just about "me me me", it reflects on all of us.

No kidding.

[RalphG]

In all my years of driving I've never had a tire blow out. And I run them til they look well worn or weather checked. The problem I am seeing is that modern tires are poor quality compared to the old ones. Especially agricultural tires. Guys complain about "Good for a year" tires but I'm running 27 year old Goodyears on a tractor that still look good for many more years. On the other hand I am replacing a couple of 4 year old "Eastone" implement tire that have developed tread bulges and sidewall cracks in their short life.

[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.

[FlatheadTed]

I am with Ralph G on this one ,Less quality = more tyre sales . Years ago we produced firestone Vintage 16 " tyres down here in NZ I put these on my 35 in the 80s, I am still running them in near perfect shape ,I guess we used genuine rubber .The Moulds were sold to --- tyres in the 90s. Due to a accident I damaged a tyre so the replacement came from ---- ,just last year I noticed a treed delaminating it was the --- tyre 10 years younger than the others ,its like light bulbs Edison worked hard at getting a bulb to last ,now the Chine's or who ever works hard to make them fail .

Originally Posted by RalphG

In all my years of driving I've never had a tire blow out. And I run them til they look well worn or weather checked. The problem I am seeing is that modern tires are poor quality compared to the old ones. Especially agricultural tires. Guys complain about "Good for a year" tires but I'm running 27 year old Goodyears on a tractor that still look good for many more years. On the other hand I am replacing a couple of 4 year old "Eastone" implement tire that have developed tread bulges and sidewall cracks in their short life.

[flatmotor40]

Just had 2 on My Jeep CJ come apart in the garage as I backed it out 7yrs old the tires they build now are crap.My 71 Monte Carlo has the org spare in it.I drive the CJ most all the time but you have to check tires.My 40 has Coker tires about 10yrs or so

[corvette8n]

Some states are kicking around the idea of including tire age in the annual inspection process, 10 years seem to be the number.

[slowforty]

I had a tire blow out at 75 mph on a 63 Buick 225 that I bought. the car was garage kept but I Never checked the date on the tires,they were 12 years old, fortunately the only problem was the Old Guy changing a tire in 80 degree weather. Also the tire and wheel were destroyed. Then i found out the tires on the 40 were at least ten years old. Guess who got two new sets of tires.

[hook00pad]

I had a friend who was bringing his very nice diesel pusher motorhome back to Kentucky, after wintering in sunny Florida. His wife and her twin sister were with him. He blew a front right tire, while driving about 65 which caused him to lose control and ran off the right side of I-10 near Tallahassee. The tire came apart, taking out the propane tank which was near it, igniting that fuel source. They all three died. Not sure how old the tires were, but the MH was over 10 yrs old and the tires had been replaced. Tires do fail without warning! Especially when older. I have blown at least three rear tires on my unit over the years. Thankfully never a front.

[tubman]

I have read (on the H.A.M.B.) that radial tires are much more likely to lose a chunk of their tread than bias-plies. Of course, that may be due to the notable bias they have towards bias-ply tires over there. (Biased towards bias-ply? Did I say that?)

[KUDZUVIPER]

I feel badly for the gentleman in the last pix, but do love the tie-dyed shirt.

[Darrell S]

I have had 2 Goodyear radials with sidewall bulges. They both had lots of tread left on them. Have a set of Coker bias plys on the old Ford about 2 years old. I'm keeping an eye on them.

[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.

[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?

[5851a]

Old cars are already on all the environmentalists lists. About the time someone makes a school bus swerve and tip over and they trace it back to old tires gives them more fuel for the fires. I have three cars in the shed that I won't drive because of old tires.

[expavr]

Originally Posted by hook00pad

I had a friend who was bringing his very nice diesel pusher motorhome back to Kentucky, after wintering in sunny Florida. His wife and her twin sister were with him. He blew a front right tire, while driving about 65 which caused him to lose control and ran off the right side of I-10 near Tallahassee. The tire came apart, taking out the propane tank which was near it, igniting that fuel source. They all three died. Not sure how old the tires were, but the MH was over 10 yrs old and the tires had been replaced. Tires do fail without warning! Especially when older. I have blown at least three rear tires on my unit over the years. Thankfully never a front.

I had a blowout on the outside rear tire of our coach and when I took it to our tire shop to get a replacement was told that both tires on that side of the coach would have to be replaced due to the difference in tread thickness and tire diameter. They said it was unsafe to operate the coach with rear duallys that have mismatched tire diameters. That had not occurred to me, but it makes sense as one tire would be taking more of the load.

[tubman]

I blew out a front tire on my old '70 Winnebago Class "A" motor home years ago at 70 MPH on the interstate on my way to a vintage race. The vehicle became almost uncontrollable. It kept pulling to the right, no matter how hard I fought the steering wheel. Luckily, we have a wide flat shoulder so I was able to get it stopped with no damage, but it was hairy 15 seconds (seemed like an hour).

[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.

[hotcoupe]

Deuce roadster, i'm glad your friends escaped unharmed, and i'm not trying to beat a dead horse. You stated that the wheels were later model 15", did the wheels have the safety bead, i couldn't tell from the image.
Thanx,
Tom

[deuce_roadster]

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What year did the safety bead become standard on wheels? I will ask him what year the wheels were. I am not sure what that looks like, the stock 55 chev wheels that I took off my Brand X convertible that had tubless tires looks like any other wheel to me. Same with the 8" and 7" Cragars I put on.

[hotcoupe]

Deuce roadster, i'm not sute what year they startef using the safety bead. I believe it is referred to as a"JJ" rim and will be stamped on the inside of the rim. It is a raised rib around the perimeter of the rim adjacent to the raised edge where the tire bead seals. It's function is to keep the tire bead on contact with the sealing flange on the wheel. If you are not using that safety rim with tubeless tires, you can wind up with that same situation that your friend had, tire wadfed up around the wheel.
Tom

[philipswanson]

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.

Me too. I have an in line filter coming off the tank on the 40 wagon. I need to build a guard around it in case something hit it under there. On tires, I found a nice modern radial from Cooper that looks good on old cars. They are called Trendsetter SE. It has smooth sidewalls just like classic tires and was made for older cars. I am running a set on the 40 from Discount Tire. You need at least a 5" wide wheel though to run them. I am running F100 wheels on the wagon. They are steel belted radials and under $100 a tire.

[NealinCA]

My dad had a rear tire blow out on his 40 coupe a few years ago. The tire came apart, tore up the rear fender pretty bad and wrapped around the rear axle and nearly tore off the rear brake line. He was able to get off the highway safely, but it could have been much worse.

A friend recently had a front tire blow out on his 48 F1 panel truck. When the tire blew, it shot him into the fast lane of the highway. Luckily there were no other cars nearby, so he was able to correct, slow down and get off the side. He said he was very close to a roll over situation.

The common denominator was old STEEL BELTED RADIAL tires. The problem with these is that any small cracks in the sidewall or tread will allow moisture to enter the tire casing. When the steel belts get wet, they begin to rust. I am sure you have all seen what happens to a rusty wire when you bend it back and forth a few times. Radial tire side walls are designed to flex, giving a smooth ride. When rusty steel belts flex, they eventually break. When enough wires in the belt break, they cause the tire to separate, and finally “Blow Out”. As Mart said, sometimes you can feel the separation and catch it in time. Other times not. When the steel belts do come apart at speed, you have cables swinging around, taking out anything in their path. Fenders, brake lines, fuel lines, filler necks, etc.

Old bias ply tires don’t pose this threat, for a couple of reasons. First, they don’t have the failures due to moisture and rust, and even if they did come apart, the cotton or nylon cords won’t cause the damage that a steel belt will.

I would seriously think about the age of any STEEL BELTED RADIAL tires you have. 7-10 years is about it on a radial. Bias ply are another story, especially when stored indoors. I’ve seen 30-40 year old Bias Ply tires that I’d run without hesitation.

Neal

[corvette8n]

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2016/0...ld-is-too-old/

Hemmings take on old tires.

[Tinker]

I guess you could have a blowout on a brand new tire too.

I usually buy new tires when I get a old ford first. Maybe more for design/look then anything.

I keep vehicles in storage (sun damage) and put them jack stands in the winter to take weight off the tire. Run 6plys on the truck. should hold up much better.

It's hard to judge a tires age by yrs vs how they are treated. If you leave it sitting outside in a texas summer for one yr. You might need new tires that next yr.


Take a inventory of your tires. If they are sidewall checking or worn, buy new tires.



.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2016/0...ld-is-too-old/

Hemmings take on old tires.

Not to be that guy... but the article ultimately comes down to tire manufacturers suggestions. ]


10yrs is probably a good rule of thumb for guys that store cars and baby them. Maybe more. Depends on how you drive and how you care for you tires.

When in doubt, replace. As mentioned a new tire can blow too....


.

[Mart]

NealinCA makes a very good point. I do run older tyres but they are older bias or crossply as we say here. The good thing on an open wheeled (fenderless) car is that the tyres are easily inspected. Not so easy on a low full fendered car.

Neal's feelings mirror my own exactly.

[40 Deluxe]

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!

...except for your left arm hanging out the window!

[dumb person]

R.I.P. that car.
And I'm just here replacing my 65 year old hard as rock crossplys because the tread was low.
They'd been looked after, but if they hit a big enough pothole i suspect the cords would've broken. They were getting pretty past their best before date.

[Tom-MI]

For what it is worth, I made up rear shields for my '35 to protect my rear fenders from being chewed up by debris thrown up by road rash. It also serves as a protector to the fuel neck. It was simple to make and I didn't need to drill any holes. I just used what holes and bolts that were factory available.

Tom

[RalphM]

Great looking piece Tom! I think I’m missing that brace though.

[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.

[Lawrie]

On a recent trip out west to Mt Isa in our 33 and caravan, we stopped at a rest area for smoko, another couple came and talked to us, they were towing a modern caravan with a modern 4WD,
He had run over some debre on the road and something went under the 4Wd and caravan with a clunk clunk.he stopped to look but could not see any damage ,so drove off,later at 100klm it got a vibration,,so stopped and looked again,nothing ,so he drove off,a few miles down the road one of the caravan tyres exploded,the remains of the tyre carcas ended up inside the caravan after smashing its way through the floor and cuboard,wheel was inside a steel mudgaurd(fender), that was also destroyed.as well as the tins of beans that were all over the inside of the caravan,
Lawrie

[tubman]

It sounds like he should have spent a little more due diligence find out what was going on.

There is now substitute for knowledge and maintenance.

[Frank Miller]

After the whole car and tire burned up, how could they determine what actually caused it. I think someone saw the date coded on the other tires and figured it was the obvious reason. I had a tire go flat on the highway a few years ago on my dads Lincoln. No indication as to why. It was the rear and we got it fixed in short order. Sometimes blowouts just happen. Notice how no one is ever alarmed at all the truck recaps on the highway. Aside from if two fail on the same axle and cause a crash, the road debris itself is a hazard that should make them illegal. I'll admit that's a stretch but I think 10 year old tires have about the same or less fail rate.

[mrtexas]

Just bought another collecter car. Tires were 07 and 11. Bought a new set of tires. Cheap insurance.

[tubman]

This thread is a good example of an underlying factor I have been sensing here (and on other boards). Some of us have more money than others. At this point in my life, the last thing I can afford is a $1000 set of tires to replace a set that has been kept properly inflated, checked, and stored inside 98% of the time just because they are 10 years old. It seems a lot of you can. That's fine, if it makes you feel better. I'm happy for you.

[deuce_roadster]

I am not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. Most of my cars I got in the 70s as ones too bad or incomplete for others to attempt to save. I had to hammer weld 10" all the way around my avatar roadster body (top and bottom frame lips rusted off), my wagon was missing half the wood. (I recently sold 3 old cars 40 convertible, 40 COE, 65 Chevelle,to buy a bucket list car, 57 vette project) I learned to do body/paint/mechanical work because I (still) cant afford to pay someone to do it, especially since I am retired.
Anyway, what keeps me from scrimping on tires is that when my son (in a 56 brand X pickup we restored together) was T-Boned by an old guy who ran a stop sign, even though it was the old guys fault, the old guy's insurance had the pickup inspected for everything, suspension parts, tire age, all drums were removed and looked for brake issues and on and on. They were trying to find any reason their insurance wouldn't have to pay for the vehicle. IF they had found anything my son's insurance would have had to go to a jury trial to get any settlement. Nobody wants or usually can afford to do that. It is just what happens when lawyers are involved. My son's insurance told him that if they did find anything (they did not) they most likely wouldn't be paying anything either.
So in a worst case scenario, if your old tires causes an injury accident/fatality, you are probably looking at bankruptcy if you own anything, as your insurance would refuse to pay. I don't gamble after seeing first hand what can happen even in a non fault accident.
I know many don't worry about anything like that and I sure hope they don't end up finding out the hard way.

[paul2748]

I don't think any of the guys who are saying "I'll take my chances" realize that it's not just the tire and the damage it can cause to their car, it's the possible loss of life, not just your own but some innocent person or persons in a car next to you or coming the other way that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[philipswanson]

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Originally Posted by paul2748

I don't think any of the guys who are saying "I'll take my chances" realize that it's not just the tire and the damage it can cause to their car, it's the possible loss of life, not just your own but some innocent person or persons in a car next to you or coming the other way that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Right on! If you can't afford new tires every 10 years, park it.

[mhsprecher]

Great thread. Thanks for all the comments.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by philipswanson

Right on! If you can't afford new tires every 10 years, park it.

Or drive it. Know the condition your condition is. Not a great comment.

Nothing means absolute. A 10 yr tire might be as good a new one really.

We all don't want to wreck our cars. You probably are more in tune with our cars then most.

Story for the hell of it, crossing the howard franklin a young lady was driving with no drivers door. Baby in a carset in the back. Odd.



.

[Mart]

This thread could very easily lead to a lot of falling out between forum members. We should all make up our minds if our particular rides are safe to a degree we are personally happy with, while considering all the arguments put forward.

My truck and roadster both have tyres in very good condition. Considering the usage, which is normally low speed pottering, with an occasional burst to higher speeds in the roadster, I am happy to continue to use them, despite them being older. They are inspected often and always inflated correctly. It should also be said they are all top quality brands and crossply (bias ply).

I bought a second hand family car this time last year. It had four tyres of mismatched brands. One had a slow puncture, one had age cracking, one was a winter tyre. I Put a brand new set of tyres on that one soon after purchase, and would probably do the same with any other modern car.

So lets not fall out, fellas, as old car enthusiasts we take a lot more care of our cars than most people.

Being aware of the condition and maintaining inflation is something was can all do, regardless of the age of the tyre. Even one fitted only last month may lose pressure due to a nail or faulty valve. So we must all be vigilant.

Mart.

[5851a]

Originally Posted by Mart

This thread could very easily lead to a lot of falling out between forum members. We should all make up our minds if our particular rides are safe to a degree we are personally happy with, while considering all the arguments put forward.

My truck and roadster both have tyres in very good condition. Considering the usage, which is normally low speed pottering, with an occasional burst to higher speeds in the roadster, I am happy to continue to use them, despite them being older. They are inspected often and always inflated correctly. It should also be said they are all top quality brands and crossply (bias ply).

I bought a second hand family car this time last year. It had four tyres of mismatched brands. One had a slow puncture, one had age cracking, one was a winter tyre. I Put a brand new set of tyres on that one soon after purchase, and would probably do the same with any other modern car.

So lets not fall out, fellas, as old car enthusiasts we take a lot more care of our cars than most people.

Being aware of the condition and maintaining inflation is something was can all do, regardless of the age of the tyre. Even one fitted only last month may lose pressure due to a nail or faulty valve. So we must all be vigilant.

Mart.

Great post, I like your thinking.

[aussie merc]

dumb is as dumb does Darwin's law should be applied without question

[tubman]

And just when "Mart" almost got this thread back on track.