While I don't agree with the sensationalized spin on this by ABC, it is good to know how to read the DOT date code to determine the age of your tires. It's interesting to note that many (most?) of the occupants of the "museum of death" are trucks & SUVs, not cars. The recommendation to use tires less than 6 years old is a great idea, but not everyone can afford to replace tires based on age, especially if the tread is >50%. The Tire Rack article Luke posted later in this thread has a more reasonable 6-10 year age recommendation (click here to view the original article). Probably the major "take away" here is to make sure any "new" tires you purchase are fresh:


10-minute video (looks like it was from 20/20) :
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897


Here's a Tire Rack link showing to how determine the age of a tire:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11


A significant item not mentioned, is that tread separation / failure as shown in the video is FAR more likely at high ambient temperatures and/or high speeds. Meaning that a 30-year-old tire could probably be used until it was bald at 70°F and <55mph. But a 7-year old tire on a heavy SUV, going through Death Valley in July at 80mph, could easily fail in a short period of time. Also not mentioned was the importance of proper inflation pressures - this has a huge effect on the tire's operating temperature at speed. European car mfr's specify to add 4-8psi (approx) for increased loads (luggage, etc) and/or for continuous high-speed driving (80-100mph or more). Under-inflated tires can cause excessive rubber temperatures, followed by tire failure. YMMV, etc, etc...

__________________
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

Ever driven on old tires? I would say that if you can't afford to replace bad tires, then you can't afford to drive.

I have had a number of benzes and a bmw that came with what appeared to be factory original spares complete with the little nipples on them.

These are fresh tires with no drying or cracking on them.

I figured WTH I will just run them.

I have never gotten much service out of the apparently fresh old tires....they always shift the belt or throw the tread.

So I always lay these pristine old tires aside and keep them until I sell the car and then I advertise, factory original spare, never on the ground.

People seem to like that stuff.

I never use them though.

I agree if you cannot afford decent tires you should park the car or sell it.

Tom W

__________________
[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.

Well, as I mentioned in my original post, the intended use of the tires (and the car) are all factors which weigh on one's decision to keep using, or replace, "old" tires.

My winter beater, an 81 VW Dasher diesel with less than 48hp on tap, wears summer tires that were purchased in about 1992. So they're 15-17 years old, have visible cracks, and are as soft as granite... but have probably 6/32 of tread depth left. For the occasional run around town at peak speeds 45mph in summer, they're absolutely fine, but I wouldn't want to autocross on them. We're talking maybe 200 miles per year between March and November. The VeeDub gets 5-6 year old studded snows for the winter, when it's actually driven somewhat often (maybe 2kmi between November and March).

Now, anyone who is wringing their hands and beating their chests in grief over my use of any car with Flinstone tires is more than welcome to pay for fresh ones. I'll happily send you my PayPal address, donations are gladly accepted. Or send me a set of soft, sticky 185/65/14 round black things, that will work great as well.

For the record: My daily drivers, all MB's, have tires less than 5 years old.

It does make you wonder...why is the date "coded" anyway???? Is this an nuclear secret?

The real reason is to protect the tire companies, probably. No one would want to buy "stale" tires.

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

Tom, are you certain you were not an ad man in another life?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Nothing Lasts Forever...and Tires Are No Exception

In the 1970s, bias ply tires wore out in about 15,000 miles during two years of service. In the 1980s, early radial ply tires wore out in about 40,000 miles during four years of service. And by the turn of the century, radial tires lasting 60,000 to 80,000 miles were providing four or more years of service on vehicles averaging about 15,000 miles per year. In all of these examples, the tire treads "wore out" before the rest of the tire "aged out."

However, not all of today's vehicles average15,000 miles per year. Multiple-vehicle families, occasionally used recreational vehicles and vehicles driven only for pleasure are driven fewer miles per year. Additionally, enthusiast vehicles trailered to events, shows, stored or put on display for extended periods of time put on far fewer miles. It's possible to encounter ten-year-old tires with significant remaining tread depth because they've been driven less than 1,000 miles a year!

Unfortunately, the growing realization that tires are perishable means that the tires on some of these vehicles will actually "age out" before they "wear out."

How long will tires last before aging out? The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and tire manufacturers are currently studying the many variables. Heavily loaded tires only driven occasionally in scorching climates face some of the most severe conditions, while lightly loaded tires driven every day in moderate climates experience the least severe. Add to that the amount of exposure to the elements (sun and atmospheric) and the quality of tire and vehicle maintenance practices (proper inflation pressure, wheel alignment, etc) and you have an idea of the complexity of the situation. While tire life will ultimately depend on the tires' service conditions and the environment in which they operate, the difficult task remains how to confirm and quantify it.

The current industry association recommendations regarding inspecting and replacing tires due to age originate outside the United States.

The British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) recommended practice issued June, 2001, states "BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tyres should not be put into service if they are over six years old and that all tyres should be replaced ten years from the date of their manufacture."

Environmental conditions like exposure to sunlight and coastal climates, as well as poor storage and infrequent use, accelerate the aging process. In ideal conditions, a tyre may have a life expectancy that exceeds ten years from its date of manufacture. However, such conditions are rare. Aging may not exhibit any external indications and, since there is no non-destructive test to assess the serviceability of a tyre, even an inspection carried out by a tyre expert may not reveal the extent of any deterioration."

More recently, The Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JATMA) recommended practice issued May, 2005, states "customers are encouraged to have their vehicle tires promptly inspected after five years of use to determine if the tires can continue to be used (recommends spare tires be inspected as well). Furthermore, even when the tires look usable, it is recommended that all tires (including spare tires) that were made more than ten years ago be replaced with new tires. Additionally, because in some cases automobile makers—based on the characteristics of the relevant vehicle—stipulate in the owner's manual the timing of tire inspection and replacement. Please read and confirm the content of the owner's manual."

Several European vehicle manufacturers of high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans identify that "under no circumstances should tires older than 6 years be used" in their vehicle owner's manual. However, it should be noted that European recommendations must include driving conditions that include roads like the German Autobahn, which allows vehicles to be legally driven at their top speeds for extended periods of time.

While American driving conditions don't include the high-speed challenges of the German Autobahn, the U.S. divisions of DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Company joined their European colleagues in 2005 by recommending the tires installed as Original Equipment be replaced after six years of service. (General Motors declined to offer a recommendation until a more scientific analysis of driving conditions and tire aging could be completed).

Because many of the tires the Tire Rack offers are manufactured in Europe or Asia, it's common for us to receive new tires direct from the manufacturers that are six to nine months old. Additionally there are some instances where the tire manufacturer's minimum run quantities will produce enough tires to meet a few years of consumer demand for lower volume types and sizes. In these cases the tires we receive directly from the manufacturer may already be several years old. Finally, when we work with a tire manufacturer to help them clear a discontinued tire line out their distribution centers, this clearance frequently uncovers some new tires that are older. These tires are typically offered at a significant discount and will most likely be worn out within their useful lifespan. Since we rotate our inventory, most of the tires we ship are less than a year or two old.

It is also important to note that the more aggressive the tires' tread compound, the shorter its life. DOT-legal competition tires would have the shortest shelf live before the aging process would begin to diminish their performance. Sometimes the tires that were just right at the end of this season will be too aged to be fully effective the next year. Max Performance and Ultra High Performance tires would be next, and so on down the line.

Our experience has been that when properly cared for, most street tires have a useful life of between six to ten years. And while part of that time is spent as the tire travels from the manufacturing plant to the manufacturer's distribution center, to the retailer and to you, the remainder is the time it spends on your vehicle.

__________________

Please, call me to place orders or for more info
use my name for on-line orders

Excellent article, Luke. Thanks for sharing!

DOT code is kinda like a VIN number for the tires. All you really need be concerned with are the last 3, or 4 numbers...

Last 3 numbers 099 - that tire was made in the 9th week of 1999.
Last 4 numbers - 0901 - that tire was made in the 9th week of 2001.

Six years is a safe recommendation but climate plays a large role as well. Since I've been here in Texas, I've seen 3 year old tires cracked severely. Heat is the enemy to tires. Low inflation makes them run hotter. Years back when I worked for Goodyear and the run-flats were introduced as standard equipment on the 97 Vette, they actually ran New York to LA with a Vette on a deflated F1-GS EMT, re-inflated it and tracked the car with no issues but since the Vonage commercials so aptly put it: People do stupid things, they're rated for 50 miles at 55 mph during any "deflated" or flat occurrence.

A side note. In 98-99, can't remember which, I did the Skip Barber 3 day course at Pocono Raceway while Goodyear was still sponsoring them. We ran 2 Neon's with 3 Goodyear Eagle HP's and a run-flat on the left front. Don't remember the model but it was basically the old Eagle Aqua-Tred tread pattern in run-flat construction. We were split into 2 teams of 11 guys. Each one of us ran 2 auto-cross laps - 44 laps total , with the EMT tire deflated. Other than a little rumble during the hard turns, you'd have been hard-pressed to even know the tire was flat. Those little "nipples" didn't even wear off the shoulders. Great technology but they're a PITA to mount on the wheel and ride hard.

__________________
Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

Ive got my origional spare (Dunlop, formula 70, from '78) in my spare well, it is a limp home tire, no cracking, none of that mess, it still has the white powder from the factory on it. I wouldnt take it over 30mph on surface roads though given the age of the tire. Never had to use it <knock on wood>

__________________
". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

I still have the Michelin original spare, the tire looks fine, the rim has alittle surface rust on it. It still holds 30PSI.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

When I first got my car, the spare was being used, and I believe it was the original tire as well! Now it's back to being a spare but I've got some others I could use properly as a spare with much newer tires, so I can park the original spare (really good shape too).

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

I think my 300d has old tires. Apparently for the last 15 years it was driven 500 miles a year, so they might be from the early nineties or something who knows. Ive lost traction in them a few times (nothing dangerous, messing around in a deserted parking lot) with little effort and they squeal constantly, probably due to the rubber hardening.

__________________
1981 300SD 512k OM603

I had a steering axle tire shred on a work semi/tractor on the freeway. It left the interstate quickly and same to rest tilted against the medium buried in the mud. Tow driver said tires were ten plus years old. I guess they waited for the tread depth not the age. I'm glad the other truck didn't rear end us.

LOL!

I have some marketing ideas.....basic. When possible have the car in tip top condition so you have nothing to apologize for, then clean and wax the bejesus out of it and when advertising of course emphasize the positive but if there are negatives point them out up front. And in todays world a heap of pictures being sure to show the drivers slide in point on the seats.

And slip in one of those pristine factory spares with the white powder on them too!

Tom W

__________________
[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.