I have old Firestone FR440 tires that visibly look to be in great shape. They're not worn funny and all of them have close to a 1/2" of meat left.

Should I replace them because they're old?
Will I get a better ride (less road noise / vibration)?
If so, What would be good for a 1963 220s, daily driver (40 miles per day, in traffic)?

Get rid of them as soon as you can, they will fall apart if you drive on them much. Rubber dies from exposure to oxygen and light, so if they have been outside, they will be even worse than if in a garage.

Do a search, lots of opinions on tires! Don't go cheap, even a 220S will do better on good tires!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Check with Firestone and see if by chance these are tires manufactured in years when they were recalling tires on account of class action law suit several years ago..... in which case you might negotiate and walk away with Brand New set of Firestones!!!

Otherwise, check em for sidewall cracks on account of their age. Probably the only real requirement for 220SEb tires is that they be matched to size and radial ply.

Dog: I think they only recalled Ford tires, mainy Exploder tires, no?

(I still think that whole thing is more than a little fishy - Ford sends tires out w/25PSI from the factory so the SUV doesn't roll over to the extent it fails crash/avoidance tests, and knowing most people never check tire pressure, 20PSI tires blow out and it's supposedly Firestone's fault when any tire would blow out by riding on the sidewall? And the Exploders then ROLL OVER which was the main reason to do this in the first place...)

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Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

Well that's the thing, visibly and to the touch they seem fine, (if not good), no cracks and rubbery like tires should be.

I guess I'm not sure if new tread is going to make that much of a difference.

Thanks

If they're 8 years old or older, replace them. Last fall, there was an NBC news feature about old tires failing, causing accidents, even if the tires looked to be in perfect condition. I'm going to check Merchants Tire to see if they have Kelly-Springfields in my size - 185/80R13.
(See my thread 'New Shoes for Miss Daisy')

Before the Firestone/Explorer tire problems, their previous big recall involved the Firestone 500 and 721 radials in the late '70s and early '80s.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I've narrowed my choice of 185/80-13 down to 2.
Either Toyo 795 or Kumho A/S.
The Kumhos are $56 and the Toyos are $90 for any one tire..
Sears has a set of 4 mystery tires for $90 - $100 for all 4,
if you dare.
Anything has to be safer than old tires.
I hate to toss my almost new Michelin XAS tires away,
but they are around 15 years old.
Look great, just old and it is better to be safe, of course.
Walt....

Sadly, your old Michelin XASs and my 12 year old Pirellis were probably much better tires, new, than most of what's availible today in that size.

I called Merchants Tire and they no longer carry Kelly-Springfield tires and don't have any 185/80R13 tires.
So I dragged out my old Verizon yellow pages and here's my tire choices in Northern Virginia, Price per tire including mounting & balancing and taxes & fees.

Merchants Tire - NA
Goodyear - NA
Craven Tire - Cooper SE $70
Just Tires - Republic $60
Alban Tire - Medalist $60
Tires Plus - Dayton $40
Sears - General $70
Mr Tire - Delta $40
Mr Tire - Yokahama $59
NTB - Futura $47

So now my choice is either take the easy way out and choose from what's availible here or upgrade to a better performing 14 inch rim and tire but wait, there's more...

I called Potomac German Auto, our nearest Mercedes parts recycler and they currently have NO 14 inch Mercedes rims for W114 or W123 cars! Next, I'll check some other local salvage yards and my local New-Wheel store.

Decisions...Decisions.....

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

The Yokomama (sic) sounds interesting. I

went to a palce called Evans here today at lunch. They said another tire is the Uniroyal Tigerpaw at about $45.

Can't you get the Kumho's or Toyo's?

The Yokomamas (sic,) Kumhos and Toyos are all better tires than most of those others, IMHO.

Now I got to check out the Yokomamas (sic.)

I sure wish I too could get the Pirelli P3000 I knew cane in 185.80-13 as shown: http://forums.190slgroup.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=14530
That what you have?

Walt...

So Ilooked high and low through
http://www.yokohamatire.com
http://www.yokohamatire.ca
and could NOT find a 185/80-13
Did the tire dealer at Mr Tire make a mistake?
Which model Yok did he quote?
TIA,
Walt...

Called 2 Yokohama dealers. No 185/80-13 available. They don't make any. But, if I want to spend $185 per tire, I can still get some 6.40x13 Michelins. From time to time Michelin will make that size. It's a Radial ZX, I think.

So if you can find what "Mr Tire" quoted, that would help.

Walt...

Bear in mind that the rubber compound on such an old tire has hardened to the point that little performance is available for cornering, braking and/or wet weather duties. Lose them.

I can remember buying 13 inch Michelin ZXs at the Hy-Gear autoparts store for $33. Now $33 Michelins and Hy-Gear stores are both gone forever!
Assuming I wanted to spend $185-per for Reissue Michelins, how would I find them?
In Hemmings? Contact Michelin directly? Online?
I'm sure the kids behind local tire-store counters will give me that 'deer in the headlights' stare if I ask them.

I'll call 'Mr Tire' tomorrow to ask about those "185/80R13 Yokahamas".

Not willing to be limited to the dwindling choice of 13 inch tires at the bottom of the barrel, I'm leaning more towards finding a set of 14 inch rims, which is presenting it's own set of problems.

Incidentally, If I decide to go the 14 inch route, my local hubcap store has new 13",14"and 15" repros of the '50s style (non-slotted) wheel trim rings in stainless for $12 each. Made in Taiwan of course.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Have you tried Coker Tire? either www.coker.com or www.cokertire.com

Thanks, PaulC,
I checked Coker on my previous tire thread and again, just a few minutes ago. They list no 185/80R13 tires. They do list a Goodyear wide-whitewall bias-ply in a 7.25x13 size.
Due to a limited budget and mis-information about radials being unsafe on a swing-axle, I suffered bias-plys for years on my first Mercedes, a '61 180b.
For go, as opposed to show, I'm never going back to bias-plys.

Walt,
I just checked and I have Pirelli P300s on my 220S. I've been pleased with them. Now if they just weren't so old....

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW