12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

So my 36 has had its tires since 2008, Coker radials with white walls. Its been sitting for eight years waiting for paint project to be finished. Now that its almost ready to get on the road for spring got me thinking, the tires are 12 years old even though they only have about 500 miles on them. Hearing stories about old tires after several years going bad. Hate to get rid of them but question how safe they are.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I wouldn't; especially radials.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Only you can decide the answer to this question. :) If they are dry rotted at all, then the answer is surely 'No'. You might run them a bit, see if you see any issues with them and then make a determination. If you plan to run it at higher speeds . . . then the risks get greatere.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

My white wall radials were 15 years old and looked great. I decided the risk was not worth it. I bought 4 new tires.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

If the tires have been inside under controlled conditions for that entire time and pass a close inspection. They should be OK for at least local driving. I'd think twice before going on the interstate. (I'd probably go, though.)

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I'd probably run them, but not at serious speed. I've had several blow-outs on my motorhome with proper inflation, excellent tread, but 10-12 years old. Never a front tire, thankfully.

Al Hook

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Storage conditions matter . Exposure to the uv rays can make them brittle and crack . I usually reserve the ‘maybe if ‘ to just around town , 3-5 mile rides to an evening car cruise, no 50 mph or higher . If i have no need for them or that kind of driving I sell them to someone that does , WITH A WRITTEN DECLARATION OF SUCH . Ive been known to buy some , after all 14 cars and no where to go , parts get expensive quickly. Gas tanks , carbs , brakes , batteries and of course tires .

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I wouldn't trust 12 year old Coker tires. Heck, I don't trust new Coker tires, do your research.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Since you have already invested in paint and other restoration, you should spend a little more and buy new tires. As you know with the "good" luck most of us have, a blowout etc. will happen where it will cause you to swerve into.....something.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Well.....no one has provided any scientific rationale/evidence for discarding tires that have no outward appearance of deterioration. Lots of opinions, no scientific/engineering data.......maybe someone will offer such.....

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Car is kept in my heated garage and for the eight years at the body shop the same. I never take it on the expressway or go above 55mph. Normal driving is just around town, 30-45mph. Think from the sounds of it and how important the car is too me, new tires are on the radar soon. Can go either way, radial or bias..never thought it drove poorly with the old bias ply Firestones. If Coker is not that great, what other tire companies are better. My wheels are the wide five, stock 4 inch wide on front and 5 1/2 wide at rear. Tire size now 550-16 and 700-16. Thinking about going black wall this time. Know its a personal choice but like having real world and good advice! Thanks

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I have the same question. Didn't Coker buy up all the tire companies and just keep the old names? Like Universal, etc.?

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Lose the whitewalls....;)


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1613160820

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I see there are Excelsior tires that look really good, black wall style. Made by Coker though??

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I think that Coker would be the one to ask.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

.

Blackwall Excelsior Stahl radial tires are available in the sizes you noted. They have a 'bias tire' profile or 'look' to them, and perform wonderfully....without tubes, on old Ford 16" wheels. Below are 5.50 & 7.50 Excelsiors on 16 X 4" and 16 X 4-1/2" wheels. DD


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...9&d=1586283163

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I would change them. your ass is worth the price of the tires let alone the cost of replacing your car if something happened. There was picture a while ago where a new restoration went up in flames when a tire let go at a low speed.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I've had a ten year old tire, stored inside, go off like a bomb.
This was on the highway, 70 mph.
This was pretty soon after putting it in service.
Took out some sheet metal. Almost nothing left on the rim.

Karl

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Thanks to all, new tires before spring for sure! Old school Firestones in bias ply , black wall look pretty cool...

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Playin with your life.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I'm not in the tire business, but it's well known in the tire service
industry that they can dry rot on the inside..... so the "no damage"
you see on the outside ain't necessarily the real situation.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

No tire shop near me will touch a tire over 10 years old. But, I know people that run them.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

This tire debate all started when Firestones were blowing out at speed. Govt did a study on tire deterioration base on the temps around Phoenix Az. Exposure to UV and temps buggered them up after around six years. Now this study was done on radials not bias ply. Up here on the wet coast of Canada the conditions are way more friendly to tires. I have older bias ply tires that I will use but first a thorough inspection inside and out.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Buy Diamond Back Tires...Have run both brands and in my opinion, they are better tires.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Just looked at DB tires, they make a very nice looking radial that has the look of bias. No tubes though, assume they will work with my wide five wheels. Thanks to all for the help!

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Just wondering what is wrong with coker tires. I thought they were one of the better tires

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I have 13 year old Cooper Cobras on my 57 Chevy right now with zero miles. I bought them thinking the restoration would go quickly and well.... it didn’t. I will use those tires/wheels for 30 miles per hour or less to test the car out in my neighborhood. I will NEVER put the car out on the interstate or highway with them on. I go every year to the TriFive Nationals and the last one in 2019 had a fatality. A gentleman had a 55 Chevy with 10 year old or so tires on, started driving home on the interstate after the show and had a tire blow out due to tire age. Car flipped and killed him. Tire rubber will deteriorate and cause delaminations around the belts. Just put a new set of tires on. My grandfather always said that good tires and brakes were the cheapest life insurance you can buy.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Tire can be replaced but life cannot.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I have a new set of coker biasply and find nothing wrong with them. Great look and I enjoy the ride. The set I replaced were 23 year old cokers that were just starting to show a dry rot crack around the circumference of the tire between the tread and sidewall.

Don't take this as recommending to use old tires. They were replaced once dot was realized and damage was noted.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I totally agree with Joe. Wayne

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I'm overly anal but when I was on the road doing 8-10 NSRA events a year I replaced the 235/85R16/10 ply tires on my 36 ft 5th wheel every 2 years. My tire dealer was always glad to see me although he thought I was nuts but in the 17 years on the road I never had a tire failure. Traded trucks every 2 years so never needed tires. On my old cars I replaced 10 year old tires on my 3 window and 12 year old tires on my 40 last year. My cars are in a climate controlled storage environment so they still looked like new. I'd buy new tires.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I'm replacing my 20 year old Coker tires on my 59 corvette and they look fine just a little crazing in the white wall areas. The car sits about eight month a year and only use it around town. I guess it's time. I'm 76 and I guess I won't be getting another set.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I saw these on a '37 Ford at a local car show, and they looked very nice. I was impressed by the stance of the car. Looked period correct.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

I have the blackwall Excelsior radial tires on my 32 Cab - really a nice tire and look almost like a bias ply. One thing is for sure, they surely handle better than any bias ply - and that is the main reason I bought them.

They are pricey - no question - but so is a crash, hurting oneself or somebody else . . . tires and brakes and the two places you should never scrimp. ;)

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Yeah, um, no. Not safe if it's me.

Now have I done it, yes. I drove my '35 for a year on fourteen year old bias tires. But I was lucky, and silly.

Here's a picture of what I settled on for the car when I wanted to be able to take it on a two week road trip. Mounted on my wire wheels without tubes.

I'll be honest and say the bill really took my breath away, I mean really. But I feel like I bought some confidence and after the bill was paid... Well I'm still trying to forget it, haha/cringe, but it's done.

And the radials are much nicer than the bias tires.

Just remember, most fellas are quick to tell you they know the absolute best tires or oil or spark plugs on earth. And everyone else is just plain wrong if they don't see it their way.

And I'll close with this: blackwalls.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

It is surprising how expensive antique tires are; especially bias ply.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

It's the old problem of supply and demand. On an absolute basis (overall tire production), supply is very low. On a relative basis (hobbyist requirements) demand is relatively high. The production problems are greatly complicated by the almost infinite variety of styles and sizes required, requiring smaller runs which always raises unit cost.

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

This brings up a very interesting issue and maybe a problem. As a car collector and have a few more cars that I need or drive very often. So its easy to say buy new tire for you car but what if you have a dozen cars? Not trying to be a smart a&$ but with maintenance in keeping you collection ready to go. I have tire 10 years old and yes they are in a heated and cooled interior out of sunlight. What I have discovered is new tires aren’t like old tires. I have 60 year old original tires to the car low miles on a car without any dry rot . I also have 3 year old tire that are shot from dry rot and need new ones. So do you spend 12k every few years on tires is what is being said.?

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

not being wise, but most are driving these as toys. Try day in and day a class 8 new tires half worn tires and we had all rear tires 8) 11-24.5s one blew off ripped my mirror off the door so there ya go, may have had 200 miles on it at 65 mph lucky didn't hit any one. so you guys buy new tires every year with no miles? I don't get it, Like Michilens get cracks in one year. dealer says thats normal. Oh well. Oh do you all buy a toaster every two months or a vacuum cleaner that I bought 1 Month done...

Re: 12 year old Coker tires, still ok?
 

Not sure what you are trying to say?