2012 michelin LTX a/t2, this is my car. these tires are only on the rear and im in the market for new ones. they don't seem to wear anymore, just chunk off. and they haven't popped after some 30 mph ditch crossings (similar to hitting a curb) so I doubt a pothole will hurt them, unless it's the Maryland variety.
what are the oldest tires you've used?
- Thread starter dumkid
- Start date
I have some Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s on my S4 that were installed in either 2009 or 2010. I don't drive the car though. Plenty of tread left though uneven wear since I have the car lowered a little and without the adjustable control arms, you can't align properly.
My neighbor had a trailer that he never thought about how old the tires on it were, had it since 2003, and he had the tire blow out on the highway in 2021.
That tire looks like it it'll breakdown to rubber mulch by itself (self shredding).
We had an old JD two cylinder tractor from the '60s and I swear it had the OE tires.
I've seen trailer tires so bad that you could see the belt through 3/16" gaps in the tread. And they still rode just fine, just wouldn't want it behind my vehicle.
Oldest I probably used was the spare on my '85 F-250 I used to own. I had a belt separation on the regular tire and had to mount the spare, which I later discovered was made in 1993. This was in 2013-ish, so twenty years old. Oddly enough it exhibited very little signs of cracking (probably from being mounted underneath the bed all that time away from sun), but it was definitely hard rubber. I had no money then, so drove on it a couple months till I could afford a new set of tires. It was a P235/85/16 IIRC.
These days I don't really go by date, but when the cracking gets bad enough, it's time to go.
Oldest I probably used was the spare on my '85 F-250 I used to own. I had a belt separation on the regular tire and had to mount the spare, which I later discovered was made in 1993. This was in 2013-ish, so twenty years old. Oddly enough it exhibited very little signs of cracking (probably from being mounted underneath the bed all that time away from sun), but it was definitely hard rubber. I had no money then, so drove on it a couple months till I could afford a new set of tires. It was a P235/85/16 IIRC.
These days I don't really go by date, but when the cracking gets bad enough, it's time to go.
Still have the original spare from a '72 Dart.
Out here in the desert, the tire dealers tell you four year. Well, they sell tires. I don't mind going six years or so, but much more can get pretty dangerous. I do not buy cheap tires, so that may make a little difference.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2023
We have tires on our van from 2007. Tires on the Beetle are dated 1997 and the spare 2001. As soon as it’s road ready again new tires will be put on.
I drove on the 23-year old spare in my volvo wagon. It sounded like an aeroplane but it was the simple tread pattern. Volvo probably liked it because it was annoying in order to shame the operator into fixing it promptly.
My project town car came with Sam's Club BFGs from 2004. They sucked-- were cone shaped and one had a bad belt/ bubble/ vibration.
My 26 year old tow dolly tires held air and worked "fine" but were cracked to smithereens when I dismounted them.
My project town car came with Sam's Club BFGs from 2004. They sucked-- were cone shaped and one had a bad belt/ bubble/ vibration.
My 26 year old tow dolly tires held air and worked "fine" but were cracked to smithereens when I dismounted them.
put a new looking Dougnut on my 2001 TT when i had a flat last month, drove 25 miles under 50 mph to my house! been thinking although it looks good + prolly the first time is was used its over 20 YO!!!! prolly look to replace it just because. tyres in the dark last longer + my aunts rarely driven 99 cherokee setting outside had its cheapo tyres replaced often for visual cracking!!
The fullsized spare on my Trailblazer is the original from 2007, I used it once in 2020, I drove home with it a few miles, then a few miles to the tire store, wouldn't trust it for more than that, on a Muncie street, a few potholes or manholes they haven't brung up to the surface and it may go boom.
My Brother's 98 mustang GT Garage queen still has the Factory delivered tires on it. (14,5xxmi)
The original spare on the 95GMC in my sig was remounted from the rusted rim to a later year rim and is in excellent visible condition. Would only use it very briefly.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2023
Oldest for me were the 7 year old GT Radials on my '07 Sonata I bought in October. Wet traction was bad but they were quiet and smooth. Got some new Kumho's installed though.
I also don't let spares get over 10 years old. Need to figure something out for the Sonata's spare.
Well, when I bought the Camry in 2015 it had the original 15 year old full sized spare on the car and the matching tire for the rest in the trunk for some reason. I wanted to keep a couple old tires for my brother's car when I got new ones right after buying it and I told Discount Tire to just put the old ones in the car. The car reeked afterwards from that old spare
I also don't let spares get over 10 years old. Need to figure something out for the Sonata's spare.
Well, when I bought the Camry in 2015 it had the original 15 year old full sized spare on the car and the matching tire for the rest in the trunk for some reason. I wanted to keep a couple old tires for my brother's car when I got new ones right after buying it and I told Discount Tire to just put the old ones in the car. The car reeked afterwards from that old spare
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If you’re riding on tires over 10yrs old you don’t love yourself as much as I love myself… I just replaced a good looking set of 2014 mfg Goodyears that were installed new on my Ram end of 2018 just because they were 9 years old…
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