<VV> Now tires - a little Corvair

[Bruce Schug]

On Mar 13, 2010, at 7:33 PM, Ken Clark wrote:

>
> How old do you think a tire should/must be replaced even if it isn't  
> worn out?
> My van tires(Michelin) were made in '02, which may be getting to  
> their limit.  Most Corvair tires never get worn out if you drive  
> less than 5M per year.  I thought my Corvair tires were fairly new,  
> but looking at the dates they go back to '03..   Ken
>
>



 From the Tire Rack web site:

"Our experience has been that when properly stored and cared for, most  
street tires have a useful life in service of between six to ten  
years. And while part of that time is spent as the tire travels from  
the manufacturing plant to the manufacturer's distribution center, to  
the retailer and to you, the remainder is the time it spends on your  
vehicle.

Tires that have been in use for five (5) years or more should be  
carefully inspected periodically for external signs of aging. While  
this inspection will confirm the condition of the exterior rubber, it  
cannot assess internal degradation or damage.

Previously unused, never-mounted tires should not be put into service  
if they are more than six (6) years old even if they were properly  
stored.

All tires (including spare tires) manufactured more than ten (10)  
years previously should be removed from service and be replaced as a  
precaution, even if such tires appear serviceable and have not reached  
the legal wear limit."



For the long answer:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=138

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=183

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=184



Part of your decision would hinge on how you use your car.  Easy  
cruising, parades, shows, etc. is one thing.  Long interstate drives  
or aggressive driving another.



Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
CORSA South Carolina
CORSA member since 1980
Performance Corvair Group
Stock Corvair Group
VirtualVairs
FastVairs
'67 Monza, "67AC140"
bwschug at att.net