Maximum tire life?

Excerpts from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113158615653093082.html

Bridgestone has broken ranks with the rest of the US rubber industry
in recommending a maximum life span for passenger and light-truck
tires.

In a recent technical bulletin to its dealers, the tire maker said all
tires - including spares - that are more than 10 years old should be
replaced, regardless of their external appearance. The company cited
the same recommendation issued in September by the Japan Automotive
Tire Manufacturers Association.

Many US car makers have pushed ahead with such recommendations,
although their age recommendations vary and generally are shorter.

Earlier this year, Ford started urging consumers to replace tires
after six years. Ford said its research shows that tires degrade over
time, even when they are not being used.

The US tire industry, however, insists there is no science to support
this view.

Bridgestone's technical bulletin notes that although the company is
not aware of technical data that support a specific tire service life,
it believes it is appropriate to follow the Japanese tire industry's
new recommendation.


============================

The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery,
a metaphor for a proof,
a torrent of verbiage for a spring of capital truths,
and oneself for an oracle,
is inborn in us.

....Paul Valery

 

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:28:26 -0800, Steve wrote:

A report out last year suggested 6 years.

 

Like all compounds, tire "rubber" degrades over time. How much time
depends on lots of factors, too numerous to list now.

But, I'm sure most of their concern involves heading off lawsuits
from idiots who can't keep their tires properly inflated and
maintained. Or from a fool who tries to corner his SUV at 80mph and
rolls the tires off the rims...

 

I have a 91 Corvette , 20500 miles . I'm the only owner , the tires look
good and have a lot of tread left . There are times I take the car on the
expressway and drive it fast . I'm wondering if I'm taking my life in my
hands with 15 year old tires on that vehicle.

-Dana

 

Interesting issue. I bet that there are many variables including rubber
compounds, atmospheric pollution types and levels, sun exposure, heat
exposure, etc.

Putting an exact replacement interval date on tires is hard, but it is
clear that old rubber gets harder and more likely to fail.

John

 

My father, who is now 79 years old, bought a 98 Honda Odyssey brand new.

Several months ago, at 45K miles, he put new tires on. He said he
couldn't believe how much better the car rode and handled.

He just got used to the original tires slowly going to hell, that's all.

 

You could be - but before you freak and have the car towed to the
tire store, get down on your knees and really inspect the tires.

If you see lots of age cracking and checking, especially cracks that
have opened up to expose fabric belts, you have rotten tires. And
look down between the tread blocks, that's where the stress is
concentrated. If the rubber is as smooth soft and pliable as a baby's
bottom, you should be fine for a while longer...

But with 15-year-old tires, even if the outside looks perfect I'd
still start looking around for a good sale on tires. The tread
compounds change with age, and I'll bet you like the grip and ride of
the car on new tires much better.

--<< Bruce >>--

 

damned right! blaming tires is cheaper than admitting liability for
thousands of deaths through /known/ flawed design. and let's face it,
that strategy was spectacularly successful before.

 

"Do ya feel lucky?" I would put new rubber on 'er.

John

 

on a PERFORMANCE care like a 'Vette, no less.

Wow. That's like putting piss-water Mexican gas in it to save a few
dimes.

 

You certainly are entitled to your opinion but a US Senate investigation,
numerous courts cases and admissions by the tire manufacture involved in the
court settlements, have proven that what you believe that led you to that
opinion, is wrong. Do some research on Firestones tires, WBMA

mike hunt

 

<snip rest>

I was under the impression that 10 years was standard on the life of a tire.
I bought a new spare a few years ago because the one I had (a full-size
spare) was in excess of 10 years old.

 

<Whistling...> (still has the original spare in his '85 Corolla GTS AND
his '85 Celica GTS...)

 

excuse me, but when is it ok for a vehicle to roll when a tire blows? i
don't care if it's tread separation, broken bottle or gunshot, NO
VEHICLE SHOULD EVER ROLL AS THE RESULT OF A FLAT. and no amount of
highly expensive lobbying whitewash or out of court settlements can
change that fact. similarly, it's just plain criminal to lobby AGAINST
rollover roof collapse standards for these same vehicles that have a
known rollover propensity "because it would cost too much". have you
ever been behind an suv when it rolls and kills its occupants because
the roof collapses to hood height? i have.

 

Thank you for the input , I appreicate the information.
-Dana

 

Explorers and similar vehicles are top heavy and very easy to roll. My
neighbor just totaled her Explorer when it slid wide on a wet corner
(first rain of the season in California is a bad, bad thing). When the
car hit the curb, boom, over it goes.

People have been buying these tall vehicles thinking they are getting
safety, but what they are really getting is a much higher probability of
rolling over and the privledge of blocking the line of site for those of
use driving reasonable sedans and station wagons.

Several years ago my in-laws rolled their Explorer on a narrow road when
swerving to avoid an accident. That vehicle, and many similar ones, is
a top heavy monster with tall sidewall tires and is very, very easy to
roll. Neither of the two people I'm talking about are agressive
drivers and they have never rolled any of their other vehicles.

In the Firestone situation I see two problems. First, Firestone made a
bunch of tires which were more failure prone under high heat conditions
than are most tires. Second, the Explorer is a top heavy short vehicle
which is very easy to roll over. Combine the two and you have a bunch
of accidents.

John

 

What about your spare tire......it's probably never been out of the
trunk. It should have no sun damage.

Who replaces that compact spare after 10 years. I know I don't.

This subject is something to think about especially if you use your
spare on the freeway at over 70 MPH.

 

The '85 Rolla has a full size spare, the Celica a 'compact'...it's bigger
than a lot of REGULAR tires on other cars!!!

 

ok, but let me ask again, why does it matter what brand the tire is? i
don't care if the tire's been shot out with a rocket propelled grenade
or if the tread has separated, the vehicle should not roll!!! and it
was known by the manufacturer that this vehicle had an exaggerated roll
propensity before it even went on sale. fact is, tire has nothing to do
with it. statistically, firestone had no greater failure rate than any
other tire, but the whitewash [and firestone's ineptitude at recognising
a political scapegoating exercise] made accusations of "it's the tire's
fault" stick. but hey, we all know that if the lie is big enough and
repeated often enough...