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  #1  
Old 11-07-2007, 11:05 PM
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Aging tires - when to replace?

I never knew that tires had a date stamp on them. I've been a car guy since birth and have read thousands of magazines over the years, but not once did it ever occur to me to check my tires for a date stamp. Well, the wagon has tires from 2001 and the SL AMG has tires from 1996. The wagon tires will easily be depleted during my 3000-mile-a-month commute, so I'll probably get new ones for that next year regardless of age, but should I replace the 1996 SL tires? Is 11 years simply - "too old"?

Your thoughts, please.

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Old 11-08-2007, 06:27 AM
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Probably yes.

If the car is stored inside and the sidewalls are not cracked it probably is ok at least to drive around town. But for any long trips on the highway I would worry about blowing out or belts shifting.

The traction qualities will be pretty poor at that advanced age too.

Tom W
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Old 11-08-2007, 08:03 AM
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You're confirming what I'm thinking, Tom. When it's cold outside, those tires are like racing slicks. Makes for some fun at stop signs.
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Old 11-08-2007, 08:07 AM
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Well, except racing slicks are so sticky that after an autocross run while running back to the paddock they pick up so many little pebbles they look like a sesame seed bun!

But they are very slippery on water.

Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #5  
Old 11-08-2007, 04:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth View Post
Probably yes.
There is no " probably " about it.
Tire manufacturers ( and The Tirerack ) state 6 years.
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  #6  
Old 11-08-2007, 06:21 PM
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My 560SEC is driven 5,000 miles a year. Every 5 years I replace the tires, including the spare. The car has 96,000 miles , is a National Show winner and is all original and better than showroom. Well, the tires aren't original, anyway it's not worth the chance to hurt it, or my wife and I. It's $500 bucks!

John
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Old 11-08-2007, 07:41 PM
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aren't original, anyway it's not worth the chance to hurt it, or my wife and I.
John
Ahhhh, so nice to see common sense in action.
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  #8  
Old 11-09-2007, 01:06 AM
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I usually change the tires on my cars every five years regardless of wear. The ones on the BMW and the truck get hardly any mileage on them compared to the tires on the 300SD. However, I just had to put the spare on the 300SD (thank you Maryland drivers) and lo and behold, it was the original Pirrelli tire from 1981. It looked brand new and the rubber was as soft and pliable as you would expect on a tire. It worked fine and I must have put 400 miles on it before I could get to a tire place and have them replace the one that blew out on I-270. All I am saying is that it is not necessarily the age of the tire that matters, it is also the conditions it is stored in and I am guessing the brand of tire.
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  #9  
Old 11-09-2007, 06:51 AM
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And I have put excellent appearing original equipment but 20 year old spares on several times and in short order they will shift a belt or blow up a bubble.

So, now I lay them aside and put them back in the car when I get ready to sell it. It seems to impress the buyers that the car has the origninal factory issued spare.

They aren't really good for anything else, imho.

Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #10  
Old 11-13-2007, 02:51 PM
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Tires

1984 300d Turbo 145k
When Buying A Used Auto Check The Tires The Inside Of The Tires
Down To The Cord And Also Check Wheels After You Sign The Papers
What You See On The Show Room Was 2006 E350 Wheels 5 Min Later
They Install 2005 E500 Wheels And Tires, On Monday Had The Dealer
Install The 2006 Wheels And Tires Back On. Order 4 New Tires From Tire Rack, Check Trade In Price Before Going To Dealer
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  #11  
Old 12-06-2007, 07:18 PM
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According to official Navy policy, tires should be changed after 5 years. In reality, they sometimes stay on much longer.

I have read a magazine article where 30 year-old drag slicks that were stored in a basement were used on the dragstrip. The authors admitted that this was kind of a stupid thing to do, but nothing went wrong. I don't go so much by age as by appearance when choosing when to replace tires. When the sidewalls start getting a lot of cracks in them, it's time for them to go.
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  #12  
Old 12-06-2007, 08:28 PM
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I don't go by the age factor since we usually use them up before the 5 or 6 year limit approaches. Wear is a definate concern though. Got a real wake up this year when the SL started to hydroplane at around 60 mph, in real ugly rain. I will NEVER run substandard tires again,,, in any condition.
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  #13  
Old 12-06-2007, 09:54 PM
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I decided to definitely get new tires come January. I just want to do a burnout or two prior to that...

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Last edited by POS; 12-07-2007 at 07:53 AM.
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