I would never put the tire in 'service'. If it has never been used in 20 years, the chances of it being used are slim. If by some chance, I had to install it, it would just have to get car at most 10 miles home or to a service station at slow speed. I am sure it would do that. Now the original spare on my 1972 SL might be another thing (it has also never been used!). Maybe when I change tires on both cars, I should keep one worn tire as the spare. I am sure you guys don't buy new tires for spares on these old cars!

Just remembered the last time I had the spare out. I stopped on 401 (our major highway) for fuel. A place I often bought fuel. But I had forgotten my wallet at home. They gave me the fuel, but wanted my spare as security! From what you guys say, I should have left it with them

Looks from imprint on tire that it was made in 18th week of 1988. Original tires must have lasted ~ years. Seems about right because car had done 130k km when I bought it early 1990.

Picture of stamping. Tire is a Bridgestone SF-471.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

My 300D had two different size tires on the rear, a 205 and a 195. It had an odd, but subtle, issue with drifting to one side of the lane when I accelerated, and the other when I coasted.

Diff never failed or anything for me, but yeah, that oil had to have been constant being churned as I drove.

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'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

Do not use that spare. I made the mistake of using the spare in my wifes 300td. It blew at 65mph and sent her up an embankment off the interstate with my kids and all.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

That's interesting. Back in broke teenager used tire days, I had tires blow on me with some frequency, and at higher speeds than that, and it never caused me to lose control of the vehicle.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I'm still a teenager, from the 70s,I run 215 up front and 225 rear

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

I won't be doing 65mph driving car 10 miles home or to a service station. But I hear your warning. It does not make sense to use such old tires for normal driving.

I looked for 195/70R14 run flats but did not find any. Came across these devices:

Runflat Tires at Rodgard

Probably expensive and mostly sold to the guys that spend our tax money!

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Likely continental or Michelin.

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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.

My current 240D came with an 11 year-old set of dry-rotted Firestone 195/70R14 tires that looked huge. I swear they made the car look like it was a 4WD vehicle!
I had an extra set of Mercedes rims with used Michelin 204/70R14s that measured out at about 1.5 inches SMALLER diameter than the Firestones. Needless to say, I replaced those Firestones - with a set of NEW 195/70R14 Michelins. FWIW, on it's first highway trip, measured against the roadside mile markers, the odometer was almost dead-accurate.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW