Standardized Tire Age Limit?

[NIsaacs]

Tried to have a tire fixed on the 'ol 91 Dodge and they wouldn't fix it due to age. They are 8 years old so that's kind of understandable, but their policy is 5 years. They only have 17k miles on them so I will mount them myself on the Dually, they are in need. Even at only 17k they are over half worn out, so I told my driver she was hauling too heavy and driving to fast, Lol

Bought Hercules Terra Trac ATII's 235/85x16 E rated and for the China Bomb haters, they are made in USA

Nick

 

[DavidC]

I ran in to that with Discount Tire when I needed a valve stem repair. Turned out quite costly, I can't remember how old the tires were.

Dave

 

[jgillott]

A while back, I stumbled on a new old stock date correct original equipment tire to go on the spare on my '79 Chevy C10 that I take to shows. I took it to one of our local tire shops and they refused to mount it, even after I explained that it was going on as a spare for a show truck that on a trailer nearly everywhere it goes. I ended up finding someone eventually to mount it, but it wasn't easy. Now granted, it was a 35+ year old tire we were talking about. Not something 8 years old.

 

[NIsaacs]

Me and tires just don't get along. Woke up to this, this morning.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Me and tires just don't get along. Woke up to this, this morning.

Sorry to see your having tire trouble and not a fun way to start of your day. Hopefully your spare survived the day for you!!! Been considering trying the Hercules terra trac tires in the 235/85r16 size....they look good and Made in the USA is a BIG PLUS.

 

[NIsaacs]

Sorry to see your having tire trouble and not a fun way to start of your day. Hopefully your spare survived the day for you!!! Been considering trying the Hercules terra trac tires in the 235/85r16 size....they look good and Made in the USA is a BIG PLUS.

I just aired it up and drove it back to the tire store, 30 miles on it and picked up a small nail. The new tires do look good, 60k tread wear warrantee, which wont help since they will age out (5 years) with about 15k miles on them, we don't use it much. They were $180 out the door, each.

Mounted the old ones on the Dually, so it is good to go. The ones I pulled off had a build date of '96, Lol I don't use it much either so they will last a long time.

Nick

 

[Michaelsloft]

I just aired it up and drove it back to the tire store, 30 miles on it and picked up a small nail. The new tires do look good, 60k tread wear warrantee, which wont help since they will age out (5 years) with about 15k miles on them, we don't use it much. They were $180 out the door, each.

Mounted the old ones on the Dually, so it is good to go. The ones I pulled off had a build date of '96, Lol I don't use it much either so they will last a long time.

Nick

Good to hear it worked out for an easy repair and your back on the road! And may they last 20+ years too.....lol

 

[brods]

I have no good answer other than go by what the manufacturer recommends, regardless of how ridiculously short that time period is.

Lets have a little challenge: Can you guess which tire is less than 4 years old and which is pushing 40 years old? (Sorry, I can't get the pictures to show correctly with the new forum software, if you click on them you can zoom in and see the difference)

Tire2

• brods
• May 5, 2018

Tire1

• brods
• May 5, 2018

I am very dubious what is going on with tires and their seemingly ever shortening life based on chronological age. Tires weren't such an age issue before. Was that because they wore out more quickly? That doesn't seem to explain it. Is it more harsh chemicals on our roads? But that would just apply to the snowy regions. Is it because of the tire liability after the Exploder debacle? Global warming allowing more intense UV to reach the ground? The Russians messing with our tires too?

Or is it just the tire companies not spending the money on the anti aging additives needed for tires to last more than a few years?

I still have a set of BFG all terrains from the 1980's. They were on a Jeep, then a Suburban and then a trailer and were almost always outside. Their sidewalls have less weather checking than many of our new tires that are only a couple years old! The last few sets of Michelin tires have been a disappointment due to premature weather checking, so much so I no longer view Michelin as a top tier tire, just an average tire not worth a premium price. Its a shame and I fear just a sign of the cost cutting times we live in today where the finance guys control the show and put the bottom line ahead of product quality.

 

[crispyboy]

The first picture is of the older tire.
My 2009 truck came with Michelin’s from the factory and were severely cracked by the 6th year. The truck stays garaged when not being used.
I opted for a cheaper priced tire (firestone Transforce AT) for the next set. By my rough calculations the age out time and tire wear out should coincide nicely. So far I am pleased with these tires. I know going in that these won’t last half the distance of the Michelin’s.
I don’t know if there is a hard and fast rule on age of tires but no more than 7 to 8 years on a car tire and 5 on trailer tires. Tires get too hard as they age so it’s nice to the newer softer tires.

 

[Shiner]

Tire retailers drive me insane. First it was no fix if outside tread area, then no fix if in the last row of tread, now its if tire is too old? Luckily I have my own machine and balancer, so I now buy tires and repair as I please.

 

[slowmover]

5-7 years.

Increased Risk vs cost per year.

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve always understood 10 years on LT’s and 3-5 years on ST’s.

UV exposure has a big factor too.

 

[Shiner]

I really chuckle..….it hasn't been all that long ago......well 20-25 years, I had an old 1961 International single axle dump truck that I used for a few major projects. 4 yard box, used to overload with dirt/gravel and the tires were so weatherchecked/chunks missing. Never worried, never had a blowout or flat......of course it didn't go fast except downhill, 6 cyl gas with 4+2....Ole binder was a singin at 50-55. Of course I happened to live in town and my neighbor was a dot officer lady. Only thing she ever asked was if it was for personal use, it was. Never bothered me. I am older and wiser, but still have to chuckle.

 

[Tuesdak]

Discount Tire has a limit of 10 years. Might check out this site by a "tire engineer" that explains why 10 years is a probability.

http://www.rvtiresafety.net/search/label/Age

 

[APaule]

I work in a tire shop, have for the past 5 years. I will fix any tire that is healthy. As long as it no bald, or have cracking large enough to stick a dime into it, or as stated above, in the shoulder/side wall. It's fixable. These rules are just the tire manufactures telling the suppliers that to cover there butts. They want any reason they can to not be liable for anything that could or might happen with a blowout/failure. Shops are following those "rules" because they get to sell you tires. It's BS and unfair to the consumers, which is why I still fix as much as I can. I've gained a lot of return customers because I have fixed a tire someone else wouldn't.