2008....Put an album up here...

https://picasaweb.google.com/112806256769537173867/FirestoneFr480

Looks like 40th week of 1988.
1998 would be 3-digit with a triangle next to the year
2008 would be a 4-digit code
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

I think it's out of warranty, too old for the recall, and probably shouldn't have been on the road.

Even if the tires aren't used, the rubber still drys out and goes bad. Every time someone posts an ad for a 20k mile W126 what does EVERYONE say? "The cost of replacing all the rubber pieces is going to be HUGE."

After ~6 years the rubber starts to break down. This is exacerbated by the vulcanization that occurs due to the heat from use. The tire becomes hard like an old elastic. At that point in time, it is no longer fit as a tire.

If you don't wear your tires out in 6 years 60k miles, buy tires with a lower wear rating and they will go bald before the 6 year mark. If you don't drive anywhere near the 60k to wear them out, buy less expensive tires so the financial hit doesn't hurt.

If you can't afford proper tires that are safe to drive on so you aren't endangering you and everyone else on the road, might I suggest a Honda Civic? It is seriously selfish to drive a vehicle that you know is unsafe and put everyone's life at risk with no care at all. "I didn't have the money" won't hold up in the case you kill a family after crashing into them head on.

Anyone know how to deflate a tire thread?:dizzy2:

:2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup

uhhhhh, kindof judgmental there.

Sort of a joke based on the concept that nothing good comes from France. Think of Citroen, Renault, the alleged French military, etc.

Dunlop did invent the pneumatic tire, but he did it in Ireland.

I have seen people driving with the most absurd safety hazards. When confronted, they give an excuse. Driving is a priveledge, not a right. It comes with great responsibility, and if a person can't take the basic steps to ensure their vehicle is safe for themselves and others they have no business steering it down the road at 75 mph. It's just ridiculous. Your tires are the only thing keeping you attached to the road. What would your reaction be if you got a call that a family member had been severely injured by a collision caused by a blowout? What would you say if the tires were a decade old and cracking, and the owner said "Sorry man, I just couldn't afford new ones. Hope your wife is alright."

Unacceptable.

I think that's why he went off road. :P

Move it to the ' tire ' forum ?

Bwuhaahaa

Are you guys saying this thread needs to be moved?

I dunno...they've tried doing it by adding air, hasn't worked.

Someone here calling a 27 year old tire old? It's still in its prime!

Tire life span really depends on climate, storage and usage.

A tire that never sees hours of highway speeds in 95* heat will crack / fail faster than a tire that is used for in town at 75* ,never over 50 MPH and always garaged. I've got 2 tires on Moms Dodge Spirit that are pushing 20 years old that show no signs of cracking. ( I put a set of new tires on the car when I bought it for her in 95 so I know the history. )

The pictured tire won't just fail without warning, the tread was heavily cracked long before it came off, there was probably a vibration and all of this was ignored.

While I haven't had tread come off, I have had a few tires break belts and go out of round / s shaped. There has always been a slow progression giving ample warning that something is coming apart. None of these tires had tread cracking beyond the standard fine checking between tread grooves.