I am the original owner of an 87 GT with 30k miles. Mostly indoor storage. I need a new set of tires due to age (15 yrs). Only have about 100 miles on this set and they look great, but I am leery of the age. I plan on doing a lot more driving with the Fiero this year and want to be safe. Since I probably won't put more than 2k/yr, I would like to buy some less expensive but adequate tires. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
However, some frugal drivers like ME, older tires have never been an issue for dry weather and at normal speeds.
If your tires are in 'great' condition and been in a garage {IMHO}, meaning no UV exposure, no dry rot or 'cracks', won't be in the rain, and no high-speed runs, I bet you're okay.
------------------ Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles
[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 03-08-2025).]
In Canada and I believe most states it is illegal to run tires older than 10 years. Your tire shop would Know what applies to your state. All I know is I had a highway speed blowout one hot summer day that damaged my camaro fender and almost put me into oncoming traffic. The tire shop shower me the date molded into the tire sidewall and it was 9 years at the time. don't trust old tires !!!
Some good info here for stock size tires but many of us have changed to the 17" size. IMO, they look better but will ride harder than the stock size . If you upsize I would suggest going a bit wider to get more rubber to the road. IMO, tire life is a huge variable. Things like type of driving, mileage, tread depth, storage, manufacturer and environmental conditions will all factor in. My Fieros are only driven to shows and the occasional Sunday drives mainly during summer, They still look like new but I will change them this year as they are 12 years old. Favorite brand is Goodyear. Never had a single issue or failure with that brand. What I would suggest is not to buy imported budget tires. The tire market today is loaded with cheap low quality Chinese tires. I would not risk my life with those.
------------------ " 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, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, 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 "
In Canada and I believe most states it is illegal to run tires older than 10 years. Your tire shop would Know what applies to your state. All I know is I had a highway speed blowout one hot summer day that damaged my camaro fender and almost put me into oncoming traffic. The tire shop shower me the date molded into the tire sidewall and it was 9 years at the time. don't trust old tires !!!
In Canada and I believe most states it is illegal to run tires older than 10 years. Your tire shop would Know what applies to your state. All I know is I had a highway speed blowout one hot summer day that damaged my camaro fender and almost put me into oncoming traffic. The tire shop shower me the date molded into the tire sidewall and it was 9 years at the time. don't trust old tires !!!
ive had new expensive tires do that to me. ive had chinese ones do it as well. so far the 18 year old tires on the accord have been fine at 140 mph. (we didnt know at the time and have since limited the top speed to 45) so it really does depend on how it was stored. if they were in a dry place like a airplane hangar (like the accord) with nothing resting on them? probably fine for a few years.
the tires of his fiero? probably fine to throw on something as a spare and thats it. its had weight on it for awhile and likely rotting from the tire cords out
85FieroGT .I know for a fact in BC the date code counts. Iv'e worked with DOT here as we were an inspection facility. 10 years ago we were required to check dates on any tires that looked weathered or damaged. always looking for tire sidewall scrubs and other damage. Now our inspections were for commercial vehicles but we would also do private vehicle on request by our police or potential buyers wanting mechanical inspection.
85FieroGT .I know for a fact in BC the date code counts. Iv'e worked with DOT here as we were an inspection facility. 10 years ago we were required to check dates on any tires that looked weathered or damaged. always looking for tire sidewall scrubs and other damage. Now our inspections were for commercial vehicles but we would also do private vehicle on request by our police or potential buyers wanting mechanical inspection.
Nothing federal, all provinces are different, I could be wrong, but I do doubt there is a specific BC law about it, at least for passenger tires, I work at a tire shop, and every place has their own policies on what they will work on and what passes inspections (there is a lot of mechanic's judgement involved, the laws themselves are left fairly vague here), and the way you describe it sounds like it's a multi point thing to fail, as in old tires alone wouldn't fail, or a sidewall scuff alone wouldn't fail, but old tires and minor damage would fail, that's something I can see being in the law, the date code counts towards a fail, but isn't an automatic failure just by itself.
