i bought Bridge-stone POTENZA RE 940 – 245/50/R16 from local classified. The two tires cost me 180. He said their brand new. The colored lines are still on the tires. The tires have no wear & tear. They truly look brand new.
But when i checked the DOT, the last two numbers were 01. Meaning the tires were manfactured in 2001. There about 14 yrs old. But i must admit they look good. I was very upset. I felt like the seller scammed me.
Should i get a refund or should i keep them. Are 14 yrs too old? Their going on my 88 fiero for the rear. Only for summer drive, no winter.
I'll try and find the article, but recently I saw that although most say only 10 years on tires, it vastly depends on how they were stored.
If the tires were stored in an area that was relatively stable in terms of temperature and humidity, you should be fine with the tires. But if the tires experienced drastic temperature and humidity changes, like in a basement, attic, shed, etc, the tires are trash
Yeah, you've got to ask for the date stamp on the tires the first time you contact a seller/vendor. I've bought used tires, but I wouldn't buy any that were more than five years old (as I know they're also going to be on my car for a few years).
I'll try and find the article, but recently I saw that although most say only 10 years on tires, it vastly depends on how they were stored.
If the tires were stored in an area that was relatively stable in terms of temperature and humidity, you should be fine with the tires. But if the tires experienced drastic temperature and humidity changes, like in a basement, attic, shed, etc, the tires are trash
Yes tires do have a "shelf life". I'd agree that 10 years of life is the optimum upper limit on tires and it also depends on how they were stored and/or used. For instance if you park your car on a dirt, gravel or asphalt driveway the useful life will change accordingly. If your car is garage parked then that too can affect tire longevity as can long cold snow filled winters where road salt is common or driving in desert temperatures. If you use older tires just keep checking the sidewalls and tread areas for cracks. As soon as they develop, tire failure is close.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I stored my new NOS Goodyear Gatorbacks in my moms basement in dark plastic bags in a dark area. Put on a set a few years ago. They are about 25 years old. Seem fine to me. Still soft and plyable. Look very brand new yet. Ride fine. I have seen older tires that get hard and crack and I have seen older tires that are still soft and look new. So it depends. If they look good and feel soft they are probably OK yet IMO. Once installed keep an eye on them - especially between the treads for any cracking.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
[This message has been edited by Rodney (edited 09-10-2015).]
My GT40 kit had Goodyears on it since 1969. They had great tread and minor weathering. i liked the BIG white letters that are not available any more, so I kept them on it after the restoration. It drove perfectly fine, no vibration or pulling at all. I drove it even cross state on freeways to car shows for a couple of years with no problem at all. I sold my Sebring with the original 12 year old tires on it that still drove great and had 3/4 of the tread left. My 66 Dodge sat in a Texas barn for 25 years and I used the tires that were on it for several years. Only reason I took them off was to put on Redlines after the restoration. I even ran the GT40 around Mid Ohio a few laps during the week of the Vintage Grand Prix. If weathering is very bad or the tire thumps or vibrates, those are the only reasons I change them if theres any good tread left on them. If they go flat, so be it...even a blowout. I know how to control a car with a flat. Ive had blowouts on a speedway at 125+ mph before...no big deal if you know how to drive. At legal street speeds, even on a curve are a piece of cake.
While 14 years is ancient for a mounted and used tire, if they were never mounted or scrubbed in its not nearly as bad. They won't have maximum grip but they're also not ultra high performance tires to start with. I do think you definitely overplayed for tires of that age though.
