So I have This New Theory On Why New Tires Are ALL JUNK, and What Might Help

[3930dave]

I've got Carlisle turf tires on my PT425. They came one it new in 2001. They still have 95% of the tread, even some of the **** are still on them. 500+ hours. I destroyed one due to operator abuse, but they are for all intents and purposes still perfect.

I've got Nokian tires on my Suburban. 5 years old. Still in good shape. No visible cracks.

I've got some off-brand tires on my 2002 car hauler trailer. Still look like new. However, the trailer is always parked on the north side of my garage so the tires are rarely exposed to UV light.

I can honestly say I've had zero tires crack and I drive em till they drop.

I had to learn the hard way that constantly parking tires on dirt can accelerate tire deterioration.

Another local factor is ground-level ozone.... high levels are tough on rubber, amongst other things.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Years ago people use to use 303 protectant on hang gliders and boat sails.

Amazon.com: 303 Products 30350 Aerospace Protectant - 32 oz.: Automotive

I've heard good things about 303. Unfortunately, last time I checked, hen's teeth are easier to find on the shelf in Canada.

Rgds, D.

 

[yelbike]

Just curious.... what was the Production Date on those ?

Tire Tech Information - Determining the Age of a Tire

Rgds, D.

What does the date code look like? How is it code or decoded?

 

[3930dave]

What does the date code look like? How is it code or decoded?

Click that link I embedded yell, for a pic + details.

Short version - DOT is stamped on the sidewall of the tire - after that there is a string of characters, the last 4 being Week, then Year of Manufacture. North American road tires have been marked this way since about 2000. (I haven't had to buy any Ags yet..... are there any industry date codes on 'em ? ).

With the prevalence of tire cracking problems, I prefer to buy tires that have been made within the last 6 months, but I definitely won't accept tires that are beyond 1 year old. :2cents:

Rgds, D.

 

[C4Ranch]

I only buy michellins where my family is involved. The set on my pu were purchased around 2004 and now have 150k miles on them with no visible cracks and plenty of tred left. It sits in a garage during the day while I'm at work but outside otherwise. I won't put any spray on them. Ymmv.....

 

[SPYDERLK]

I only buy michellins where my family is involved. The set on my pu were purchased around 2004 and now have 150k miles on them with no visible cracks and plenty of tred left. It sits in a garage during the day while I'm at work but outside otherwise. I won't put any spray on them. Ymmv.....

150K has to be a world record. You should contact Michellin. Im sure they didnt mean to make em last that far. Do they have any traction at all?

 

[MossRoad]

I had to learn the hard way that constantly parking tires on dirt can accelerate tire deterioration.

Another local factor is ground-level ozone.... high levels are tough on rubber, amongst other things.....

Rgds, D.

My tractor shed has a dirt floor.... 13 years on a dirt floor. Indoors, but still dirt.

 

[3930dave]

My tractor shed has a dirt floor.... 13 years on a dirt floor. Indoors, but still dirt.

I do like to hear about the geographic variations on here.....

Biology is my weak science, so I don't know to what extent soil bacteria change from region to region (What say you Aggies ?)..... but that may be a factor...... where I live was a lake-bed, an eye-blink ago in geological time....

Something like 12+ years ago, I put 2 brand new Sears car tires (mid-range quality, at the time) on my utility trailer, and chained it up in my yard under a big tree - to be clear- parked on my lawn. Fairly quickly, (less than 3 years) the sidewalls were cracked so badly you could see the problem from 6' away.

After that (and a chat with a local mechanic) I started parking that trailer on 2x6 PT lumber. I wasn't about to spend money on new tires for that trailer at the time, so just threw on 2 well-used P tires - many years later, those P tires still looked well used, but sitting on PT lumber - their sidewalls look no different than when I started using them on that trailer.

Maybe I've got some magic mix of old rubber in those old P tires (not trying to be funny.... after reading enough of ultrarunner's posts on his old cars, there may be something to that....) , but, like chicken-soup for a cold - I'm sticking with PT lumber under those trailer tires.

Rgds, D.

 

[ruffdog]

My tractor shed has a dirt floor.... 13 years on a dirt floor. Indoors, but still dirt.

Three of my sheds are dirt, BUT, I put a layer of wood chips down and I love it. If it is dry, they last for a VERY long time too.

 

[C4Ranch]

150K has to be a world record. You should contact Michellin. Im sure they didnt mean to make em last that far. Do they have any traction at all?

I've been amazed with them. The truck has 225k mikes and I've only bought 6 tires total.

The OEM 4 lasted about 75k when I had 2 flats just driving down a dirt road. That's when I out the michellins on. At round 220k, I got a left front flat and replaced both front tires. The rear are still running the michellins with good tread, still haven't hit the wear indicator.