Good fortune

[unreconstructed]

We go to our place once or twice a month and take the 5203. Is a 400 mile round trip. Before heading back Monday, noticed a low tire and put on the spare. The low tire wouldn't hold but 20 pounds. Got home and even though the tread still looks pretty good decided to get new tires. Was looking at the tires and found a large gouge in one of them. Lucky we didn't blow the sucker on the way back. Was a 101 degrees that day to boot. Whew!!!!

 

[Rara Avis]

Check the date stamp on the tire...Just HOW OLD WAS IT??

Tire Expiration Dates

NEWS UPDATE: May 10, 2008


20/20 RUNS SPECIAL REPORT ON DANGERS OF OLD TIRES
On Friday, May 9, 2008, the ABC news show 20/20 ran a special report on the dangers of old tires. The news show used undercover reporters to purchase "new" tires from various retailers and tire stores. Some of these so-called new tires were anywhere from four to 14 years old!

The report said these old tires are "ticking time bombs." As rubber ages, it increases the risk of the tread separating from the tire, causing a sudden blowout and loss of control of the vehicle.

The average consumer assumes that when they buy new tires for their vehicle, they are getting new tires, not old unsold tires that may have been sitting in a warehouse for years. The date code is not obvious, and if you don't know how to read it, it is just a meaningless number on the side of the tire.

The 20/20 report said that because there is no expiration date on tires, it creates a potential hazard for consumers who buy new tires but are actually getting old tires that may be too dangerous to use.

The 20/20 report said some experts are now recommending an expiration date of only 6 years from the date of manufacture, whether a tire has been in use on a vehicle or has been sitting in a warehouse.

 

[ultrarunner]

Age is only one factor...

I can't even imagine the cost if we, as a country on wheels, were forced to discard tires 6 years after manufacture... not just the cost to buy new tires, but also the cost to discard the old ones and the waste of resources.

Personally, I have tires nylon tires on my Model A Ford that are 35 years old... I know, because I bought them in 1973.

 

[Renze]

Personally, I have tires nylon tires on my Model A Ford that are 35 years old... I know, because I bought them in 1973.

as with many chemical products, the older, highly toxic varieties seem to withstand the time better than the new environmentally friendly types...

 

[ultrarunner]

as with many chemical products, the older, highly toxic varieties seem to withstand the time better than the new environmentally friendly types...

I think you are exactly right... many of today's products, for better or worse are simply not built the same.

Off topic... but here is my example.

The Hospital were I work built a new from the ground up facility in 1995. I was very much involved all all aspects.

This was just the time that California phased in VOC limits and everybody affected was scrambling to use water-based substitutes.

I have 1000's of square feet of custom P-Laminated case work through-out the facility where they used the new mandated water based Formica adhesive resulting in a on-going disaster... Not a week goes by where a piece of laminate isn't falling off a cabinet or a counter edge coming loose.

The Cabinet shop was driven out of business because of this... environmentally friendly substitute and I have to deal with the aftermath 12 years later to re-glue everything... Yellow 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive is what works for me...

 

[unreconstructed]

Will check the date and see. Bought the trailer new from Big Tex 3 years ago this month. Have a mile of really rocky road to get to the place so am going with new tires. Should be living there in a another 12 months so for the most part trailering the tractor will be a thing of the past other than a couple of trips a year to another place that does not require as much attention. Of course , will need good tires to make the 450 mile round trip. And hopefully will be able to cure the rocky road once I live there.