Tire aging-safety please read!

[BlueSunoco]

More info on MrWzrd's tire age question from Edmunds.com,,, kind of lengthy but worth the read for safety's sake. That tire looks like a BF Goodrich Radial TA.

In February 2008, the owner of a 1998 Ford Explorer in Georgia needed a new tire for his SUV and ended up buying a used one. When he was driving two weeks later, the tread suddenly separated from the tire. The Explorer went out of control and hit a motorcycle, killing its rider. An analysis of the used tire revealed that it was nearly 10 years old.
The incident illustrates not only the potential danger of buying a used tire but also the perils of aging tires — including those that have never spent a day on the road.
For years, people have relied on a tire's tread depth to determine its condition. But the rubber compounds in a tire deteriorate with time, regardless of the condition of the tread. An old tire poses a safety hazard.
For some people, old tires might never be an issue. If you drive a typical number of miles — 12,000-15,000 miles annually — a tire's tread will wear out in three to four years, long before the rubber compound does. But if you only drive 6,000 miles a year, or have a car that you only drive on weekends, aging tires could be an issue. The age warning also applies to spare tires and "new" tires that have never been used but are old.
What Happens to a Tire as It Ages?
Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., compares an aging tire to an old rubber band. "If you take a rubber band that's been sitting around a long time and stretch it, you will start to see cracks in the rubber," says Kane, whose organization is involved in research, analysis and advocacy on safety matters for the public and clients including attorneys, engineering firms, supplier companies, media and government.
That's essentially what happens to a tire that's put on a vehicle and driven. Cracks in the rubber begin to develop over time. They may appear on the surface and inside the tire as well. This cracking can eventually cause the steel belts in the tread to separate from the rest of the tire. An animation on the Safety Research & Strategies Web site shows how this happens. Improper maintenance and heat accelerate the process.
Every tire that's on the road long enough will succumb to age. Tires that are rated for higher mileage have "anti-ozinant" chemical compounds built into the rubber that will slow the aging process, but nothing stops the effects of time on rubber, says Doug Gervin, Michelin's director of product marketing for passenger cars and light trucks.
How Long Does a Tire Last?
Carmakers, tiremakers and rubber manufacturers differ in their opinions about the lifespan of a tire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has no specific guidelines on tire aging and defers to the recommendations of carmakers and tire manufacturers. Carmakers such as Nissan and Mercedes-Benz tell consumers to replace tires six years after their production date, regardless of tread life. Tire manufacturers such as Continental and Michelin say a tire can last up to 10 years, provided you get annual tire inspections after the fifth year. The Rubber Manufacturers Association says there is no way to put a date on when a tire "expires," because such factors as heat, storage and conditions of use can dramatically reduce the life of a tire.

Heat: NHTSA research has found that tires age more quickly in warmer climates. NHTSA also found that environmental conditions like exposure to sunlight and coastal climates can hasten the aging process. People who live in warm weather and coastal states should keep this in mind when deciding whether they should retire a tire.
Storage: This applies to spare tires and tires that are sitting in a garage or shop. Consider how a spare tire lives its life. If you own a truck, the spare may be mounted underneath the vehicle, exposed to the dirt and the elements.
If your spare is in the trunk, it's as if it is "baking in a miniature oven," says Dan Zielinski, senior vice president of Public Affairs for the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Most often, the spare never sees the light of day. But if the tire has been inflated and mounted on a wheel, it is technically "in service" — even if it's never been used, Gervin says.
A tire that has not been mounted and is just sitting in a tire shop or your garage will age more slowly than one that has been put into service on a car. But it ages nonetheless.
Conditions of use: This refers to how the tire is treated. Is it properly inflated? Has it hit the curb too many times? Has it ever been repaired for a puncture? Tires on a car that's only driven on the weekends will have a different aging pattern than those on a car that's driven daily on the highway. All these factors contribute to how quickly or slowly a tire wears out. Proper maintenance is the best thing a person can do to ensure a long tire life. Gervin recommends that you maintain proper air pressure in tires, have them rotated regularly and have them routinely inspected.

How To Determine the Age of a Tire
The sidewall of a tire is littered with numbers and letters. They all mean something, but deciphering them can be a challenge. This Edmunds article about reading a tire's sidewall goes into greater detail, but for the purposes of determining the age of a tire, you'll just need to know its U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number.
Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit DOT code. The first two numbers represent the week in which the tire was made. The second two represent the year. A tire with a DOT code of 1109 was made in the 11th week of 2009. Tires with a three-digit code were made prior to 2000 and are trickier to decode. The first two digits still tell you the week, but the third digit tells you the year in the decade that it was created. The hard part is knowing what decade that was. Some tires made in the 1990s — but not all — have a triangle after the DOT code, denoting that decade. But for tires without that, a code of "328" could be from the 32nd week of 1988 — or 1978.
Clearly, these DOT numbers weren't designed with the consumer in mind. They were originally put on tires to make it easier for NHTSA to recall tires and keep track of their manufacturing date.
To make matters worse, you might not always find the DOT number on the outer side of the tire. Because of the way a tire is made, it is actually safer for the technician operating the mold to imprint information on the inner side of the tire, so some manufacturers will opt to put the number there. It is still possible to check the DOT code, but you might have to jack the car up to see it. Keep the visibility of the DOT number in mind the next time you are at a tire shop and the installer asks if you want the tires to be mounted with the raised lettering facing in.
That potential inconvenience is going away, however. NHTSA says that the sidewall information about the tire's date of manufacture, size and other pertinent data is now required to be on both sides of the tire for easier reading.
After checking out a tire's birth date, give the rubber a visual inspection. Some of the best advice on such an inspection comes from the British Tyre Manufacturers' Association. It recommends that consumers check tires regularly for any sign of aging, such as tread distortion or large or small hairline cracks in the sidewall. Vibrations or a change in the dynamic properties of the tire could also be an indicator of aging problems, the association says. It recommends replacing the tire immediately if such symptoms appear.
Don't Buy Used
Tires are expensive, especially when you factor in the price of mounting and balancing. That's why used tires become more attractive to consumers who are strapped for cash. But the purchase of used tires is very much a buyer-beware situation, Zielinski says. "Even a one-year-old tire can be dangerous if it was poorly maintained," he says.
When a consumer buys a used tire, he has no idea how well it was maintained or the conditions in which it has been used. The previous owner might have driven it with low pressure. It could have hit curbs repeatedly. It could have been patched for a nail. Further, it's a dated product.
"You wouldn't want a used tire for the same reason that you wouldn't buy a 10-year-old computer," Zielinski says. "You are denying yourself the advancements in tire technology over the past few years."
Make Sure You're Getting a "Fresh" Tire
Just because a tire is unused doesn't mean it's new. In a number of instances, consumers have purchased "new" tires at retail stores only to find out later that they were manufactured years earlier. In addition to having a shorter life on the road, a tire that's supposedly new but is actually old may be past its warranty period.
If you buy tires and soon after discover that they're actually a few years old, you have the right to request newer ones, Zielinski says. Any reputable store should be willing to make amends. "It is fair for a consumer to expect that 'new' is not several years old," he says.
Letting Go
Getting rid of an unused spare or a tire with good-looking tread may be the hardest thing for a thrifty consumer to do. "Nobody's going to take a tire that looks like it's never been used and throw it out," Kane says. But if it's old, that's exactly what the owner should do.
Although Kane has lobbied NHTSA to enact regulations on tire aging, nothing is currently on the books. A NHTSA spokesman says the organization is "continuing to conduct research into the effects of tire aging, and what actions consumers can do to safely monitor their tires when they are on their vehicles."
It's too bad that tires don't have a "sell by" date, like cartons of milk. Since there's no consensus from government or industry sources, we'll just say that if your tire has plenty of tread left but is nearing the five-year mark, it's time to get it inspected for signs of aging.
Of all your vehicle's components, tires have the greatest effect on the way it handles and brakes. So if the tire store recommends new tires at your five-year check-up, spend the money and don't put it off. Your life could depend on it.

[MrWzrd]

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[Growley bear]

Very good article.
I replaced my tires in July 2013 because the sidewalls were checked and I could feel and hear the bead wire shifting and cracking while removing them for the second time after having the wheels powder coated. They have perfect tread though. Not even good for spares.
Chet

[Pinstripe]

Thanks for the article Blue Sunoco. good info

[RonC]

Has anyone ever seen a tubed Model A tire blow out because the casing failed?

[bikejunk]

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not on an A, but I had a tire failure on an antique motorcycle ripped right at the bead looked like a really nice tire but about 50 years old, will never be so stupid again why take a chance?

the biggest ride difference on my 30 Tudor was a fresh set of tires

[DougVieyra]

Playing Golf, is inherently unsafe. Swimming, is inherently unsafe. Driving a car is inherently unsafe. Eating is inherently unsafe (check with N.Y.C. Mayor Mike Blumberg). Drinking water carries inherent dangers. ALL are true.

How many cars (times four tires) are on the road throughout the world ? The official estimate is : "A Bunch".

How many deaths are reported throughout the world that can be directly attributed to a tire that had 'cracks' in the sidewall ?

I missed hearing about it on CNN, NBC & FOX - but I am sure it was mentioned on RalphNader.com.

Have you ever purposefully tried to destruct a tire ? I can tell you - it ain't easy !

I am not sure that driving with my 30 year old tires is any more dangerous than being over-weight by 30 pounds. Or not excersizing regularly. Or eating too much red meat. Or any other dangerous, unsafe, activities that we all do on a regular basis.

But perhaps my 'risk tolerance' is greater than most. Or my sense of optimism. Or my faith in my own judgement.

Remember - the most terrifying words one can hear are : "Hi, I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help you."

[al's28/33]

Most of us probably don't drive our "A"s 20-30-50 thousand miles a year. Maybe we go 2,000 or 5,000 miles or even 500 or 1,000 miles per year.

This leads me to think, my 21" Firestones were new in 2002 and I'll bet they don't have 4,000 miles on them since I put them on the car 12 years ago. I'll have to inspect more closely before every Sunday drive if there are any cracks or suspicious issues.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by al's28/33

Most of us probably don't drive our "A"s 20-30-50 thousand miles a year. Maybe we go 2,000 or 5,000 miles or even 500 or 1,000 miles per year.

This leads me to think, my 21" Firestones were new in 2002 and I'll bet they don't have 4,000 miles on them since I put them on the car 12 years ago. I'll have to inspect more closely before every Sunday drive if there are any cracks or suspicious issues.

I don't have to inspect the tires on my Fordor for cracks. They already have more than I can count! by the time I get around to putting my new Goodyears on the car they won't technically be new anymore but I'm in no rush. The old tires just keep going. The main reason I even bought the Goodyears is that the tires on the car are Garfields. Garfields are butt-ugly!

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

What if any, are the differences between Garfields and Bedfords? Were they made by the same Mfg., (Uniroyal??), at that time?

I don't recall Bedfords but was thinking they were different. Garfield made the Sears Allstate and both had the exact same zig-zag tread and boring side wall. There may have been a third label for the same pitifully ugly tire!

[d.j. moordigian]

BlueSunoco,

We seen that here,...when the tires sit on concrete for extended periods
of time, without moving....maybe 2-4 months.....

[BlueSunoco]

Thanks d.j.------ I have 20 year old Goodrich Radials on a Mustang that very seldom gets driven, they look like new but they are going on the trash heap this spring

[J Franklin]

I am not worried about old tires on any light car that I don't drive on the freeway for extended periods. When you change out good aged tires you keep the sellers happy. If older model A tires were such a problem we would hear more about them from our nanny government. Those tires in my avatar are recaps. I am now running 15 year old GoodYears and have no worries at all.

[H. L. Chauvin]

1. FWIW: I have always heard years ago that the perfect way to ruin tires was to drive them with low pressure whereby the tires are over stressed & heated with constant flexing between the shape of tire at the top as compared to the shape of the tire at the bottom -- especially at higher speeds.

2. Also heard back then that another way to ruin a tire was to allow a tire to go flat accompanied with the weight of a vehicle, even for short periods during storage; hence "always" keep "mounted" tires fully inflated.

3. Please do not try this because it may not work in all cases; however, I have 35 year old 19" Canadian Goodyear tires on my 1930 Town Sedan which I was told by the previous owner that the tires had 200 miles of wear; hence the tire treads look new with minor shallow cracks on sides; however, because (2) of the (4) existing old tubes had cracked stems with slow leaks, replaced all (4) 19" Canadian Goodyear tubes about 6 months ago with new "un-recycled rubber" tubes from Bratton's -- drove 162.7 miles yesterday, (averaging slow speed of 45 mph), with no problem & tires look better than good compared to the "may-pop" tires I had on my $25.00 1930 Coupe over 55 years ago, all of which had red rubber patched tubes in the slick tires with no treads.

4. Please do not try this either, but I have some 58 year old worn whitewall tires on my homemade boat trailer, with 56 year old tire tubes, which came off of my Dad's 1955 Chrysler New Yorker which still hold air & work well; however, our other trailer had 1935 whitewall tires with red rubber tubes which were 61 years old & still in use when we dismantled this trailer.

5. We always chose non-re-treaded worn tires for homemade trailers, (without fenders), so when traveling back then on gravel roads, the crevices in the tire treads could not pick up gravel & throw them forward on the vehicle pulling the trailer.

6. One thing we never would do is to buy "used" tires back then because most "used" tires were "re-treaded" tires that had the old treads removed & were retrofitted with new "unknown manufacturer's vulcanized treads -- "re-treaded" tires back then were considered by some people as the first choice for anybody contemplating suicide -- also, back then, sides of highways were loaded with pieces of retreaded tires that flew off of re-treaded tires -- when the tire's outer covering departed like that shown the above large photo, only a thin tire covering remained -- & then, "Pop Goes the Weasel."

7. Even though for safety's sake, none of us would ever recommend using "old" tires; appears it would be very interesting to obtain a current report on how many "old" vintage vehicles have "old" tires, (only those with tubes), that are currently being used on vintage vehicles in the U.S. which travel at or below 45 mph.

8. In response to Ron's reply #5 about "Model A" tube type tires, the only blowouts I experienced at or under 45 mph was on tires that had very little or mostly with absolutely no more treads; however if one wants to experience a blow-out, just overload tires with lots of weight such as with a Model A pickup, & over load it with dirt such that the rear fenders almost touch the ground & get up to about 60 mph; or place "new" Model A tires with "new" tubes on an overloaded trailer pulled at 65 mph, thus creating increased heat coupled with overstressing & rapidly over-flexing the tires at high speed -- maybe 20 miles max or less before a blowout.

Just one Model A experience with Model A tires traveling at or below 45 mph.

[JeffB2]

More to read here:http://www.tirereview.com/Article/65...ty_levels.aspx Just because you see a familar name on the label or sidewall does not mean the quality you became familiar with,and this is also true with other rubber products from China and India.I bought vent rubbers from Dennis Carpenter that fell apart in six months for my '54 Ford and reports of motor mounts and suspension parts cracking and rotting in less than a year are becoming more commonplace.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Old Tires:

My cousin & neighbor died at 96 a just few years back & often related this actual happening.

My Dad had related years ago when he was a kid, his cousin & neighbor came by to borrow their 1912 Buick in about 1915 -- all dirt roads with no gravel.

The cousin commented on how poorly the worn tires looked; however, my Grandfather remarked not to worry because nothing was wrong with these tires, & they could easily travel all the way to "Yankedy-Yank".

The cousin departed with the 1912 car.

About 15 minutes later the cousin returned "walking", & knocked on the my Grandfather's front door whereby my Dad opened the door.

My cousin told my Dad to go tell my Grandfather that he had learned something new; i.e., that "Yankedy-Yank" was only about 1/2 of a mile up the road!

[DougVieyra]

J Franklin : "I am not worried about old tires on any light car that I don't drive on the freeway for extended periods. When you change out good aged tires you keep the sellers happy. If older model A tires were such a problem we would hear more about them from our nanny government. Those tires in my avatar are recaps. I am now running 15 year old GoodYears and have no worries at all."
__________________________________________________ ______

My sentiments exactly !

I have been a vintage tire collector for over 50 years (kept in a basement -controlled environment - like an expenive Vintage wine) and I have yet to see any 'aging issues' on either my pre-war (1941), war-time (1941-1946), or post war (1946-'55) tires. Ofcourse these are tires that I have hand picked from many that were discarded for all the various reasons mentioned by earlier posts.

The 21" Wood Wheels I have for my '28 Phaeton, all have original (late '20's - early '30's) "Buffalo Ballon" tires on them, and they still look good in all aspects. Ofcourse I am not totally silly about them - I use them gingerly, at slow speeds in our local area only.

Some people play golf. Some people collect stamps. Some people collect vintage tires. However it has not excaped my attention that collecting stamps or thimbles, takes up a great deal less space !

[H. L. Chauvin]

Witnessing U.S. Tubeless Tire Manufacturing in 1970's -- Still Goes On:

Mentioned this before, but after attending a so called "preferred" stockholder's meeting conveniently conducted later at night in 1971, (with (10) "preferred" U.S. stock companies), one major U.S. tire manufacturer recommended buying their promising stock because they had developed a special tubeless tire with high tech engineered planned obsolescence whereby these tires would carry a 20,000 mile warranty; but would only last less than 10,000 miles; however, it was "mandatory" for the tire purchaser to have a copy of his sales receipt to collect on the tire's pro-rated warranty; hence, only a few would keep the sales receipt & then, they would have to shell out cash to buy "new" tires.

Until this time, I had always heard that this type of stuff occurred frequently in the U.S.; but actually "seeing" it planned over 40 years ago was an eye opening experience -- drastically altered my way of looking at merchandise, ads, politics, & just life in general.

Appears actual life's experiences are always a better teacher that reading some of which that is written by others but never experienced -- appears good to try things now & then to actually "see" how it works -- getting married is a good example to try after reading about it -- I'm glad I did -- my wife enjoys riding in a Model A.

[[email protected]]

Looking back over 30 years of touring Model A's with clubs and touring groups, I can recall several blow outs occurring on the highways....

Just about all were rubber valve stem related. Usually you could see the cracks on the valve stem before the failure... Or the rubber stem was pinched or crooked in the rim.

Don't recall seeing any sidewall failures over the years.

I guess the trick is to drive your Model A enough so you wear the tires treads out on a regular basis before they get too old...

[DougVieyra]

[email protected] : "Looking back over 30 years of touring Model A's with clubs and touring groups, I can recall several blow outs occurring on the highways....

Just about all were rubber valve stem related. Usually you could see the cracks on the valve stem before the failure... Or the rubber stem was pinched or crooked in the rim.

Don't recall seeing any sidewall failures over the years."
________________________________________

That has been my experience too.