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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » 13 year old "new" tire (Keep it or return it?)
13 year old "new" tire [message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 13:40 Go to next message
habbyguy is currently offline  habbyguy   United States
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Hi, all... I recently had a mysterious flat, and decided to get a single used replacement identical to the other tires on my coach. All the tires are about 6 years old, so I'm not planning on running them TOO much longer (hoping to wear them out first). Wink

Thing is, the used tire showed up with a couple issues. On the bright side, it was almost totally unused - it still had the factory paint between the treads, so it couldn't have rolled more than a few miles. OTOH, it had a nail in it that the vendor had missed (easily and permanently patched by my favorite local tire store), and second, it had a 2002 manufacturing date code. Otherwise, it looks virtually new - not a weathercheck on it anywhere... the rubber is dark, supple and shiny.

I was in a bind, had a trip to do (and a good, though also old spare on board), so I mounted it and ran the tire up to the Grand Canyon and back (about 400 miles round trip).

The Ebay vendor has offered a partial refund (TBD) or to send me out a tag to return the tire.

What would you do if you were in my shoes (tires)?


Mark Hickey Mesa, AZ 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279734 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 13:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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Location: Mounds View,MN
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13 years!
No way would I run that.
I would return a 6 year old tire


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire [message #279735 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 13:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kingsley Coach is currently offline  Kingsley Coach   United States
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Location: Nova Scotia Canada
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Senior Member
If you buy lotto tickets...keep it cause you're a gamblin' man . If you
never buy them, send it back..

Just what I would do. Oh and if the former, have you won much :)

Mike in NS

On Fri, Jun 12, 2015 at 3:40 PM, Mark wrote:

> Hi, all... I recently had a mysterious flat, and decided to get a single
> used replacement identical to the other tires on my coach. All the tires
> are about 6 years old, so I'm not planning on running them TOO much longer
> (hoping to wear them out first). ;)
>
> Thing is, the used tire showed up with a couple issues. On the bright
> side, it was almost totally unused - it still had the factory paint between
> the
> treads, so it couldn't have rolled more than a few miles. OTOH, it had a
> nail in it that the vendor had missed (easily and permanently patched by my
> favorite local tire store), and second, it had a 2002 manufacturing date
> code. Otherwise, it looks virtually new - not a weathercheck on it
> anywhere... the rubber is dark, supple and shiny.
>
> I was in a bind, had a trip to do (and a good, though also old spare on
> board), so I mounted it and ran the tire up to the Grand Canyon and back
> (about 400 miles round trip).
>
> The Ebay vendor has offered a partial refund (TBD) or to send me out a tag
> to return the tire.
>
> What would you do if you were in my shoes (tires)?
> --
> Mark Hickey
> Mesa, AZ
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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>



--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
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Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279741 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 15:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bhayes is currently offline  bhayes   United States
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Registered: March 2010
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Personally, I wouldn't run on a 13-year-old tire. I'd send it back. I've seen the results of old tire blowouts on RVs (no GMCs as of yet), and it ain't pretty.

I just replaced mine, and they were "only" 10 years old.


Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279746 is a reply to message #279741] Fri, 12 June 2015 16:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Harry is currently offline  Harry   Canada
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Registered: October 2007
Location: Victoria, BC CANADA
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If it has been stored inside it should be OK.
It's sun and plastic tires that are the problem.
Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire [message #279748 is a reply to message #279735] Fri, 12 June 2015 17:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
<rallymaster is currently offline  <rallymaster   United States
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Probably not a valid statement for any 13 year old tire, no matter where
it's been stored.

ronC


On Fri, 12 Jun 2015 15:58:41 -0600 David H. Jarvis
writes:
> If it has been stored inside it should be OK.
> It's sun and plastic tires that are the problem.
>
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Ron & Linda Clark
North Plains, ORYGUN
78 Eleganza II

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Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire [message #279749 is a reply to message #279748] Fri, 12 June 2015 17:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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<rallymaster wrote on Fri, 12 June 2015 17:07
Probably not a valid statement for any 13 year old tire, no matter where it's been stored.
ronC
The fact is there are only two things that cause a tire to decompose spontaneously: UV light and ozone. If it is stored close to a high traffic area with a lot of unburned hydrocarbon fumes that can cause ozone to form, OR where it can get direct sun, it will be more "rotten" than stored in the dark away from exhaust fumes. Kept away from those two elements, a tire has an indefinite lifespan.

No matter what, the manufacturer won't warrant anything for more than 10 years from date code.

The other idea that the "plasticizers" (or whatever) that keep a tire flexible do not stay evenly distributed unless the tire turns (is used every now and then) may or may not be superstition. I don't know. I lean towards not believing that particular urban myth.
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279751 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 17:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
George B. is currently offline  George B.   United States
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Based on my experience an old tire is an old tire even if it is unused. Around 1995 I imported about 200 Kumho tires to fit vintage Honda Cars and Mini Coopers as the 10 inch size tire had become unavailable through normal distributors. The new Tires worked great No problem but after about 8-10 years or so a few of the "new" old stock (NOS) tires, when used, started having tread separations and blow outs even though they were stored inside and each warped. Had the same problems with NOS Michelin tires when you could find them in that size. In the case of the Michelins the side wall gave out.

George Butts Las Vegas Nevada 73 "Custom 26' Q" & 76 23' Birchaven 71 Honda 600 Coupe & 01 Tracker Toads
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279752 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 17:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jim Galbavy is currently offline  Jim Galbavy   
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Mark,

Because of where your trip was to, I think I would not have accepted the 13 year old
tire and I would also would have replaced your 6 year old tires. In my opinion you
are tempting fate.

jm2c.

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, FL
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279755 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 19:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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I go with the 10 year old rule rule on RV tires as published stated by Michelin. I just a week ago replaced a 13 year old Michelin "spare" tire that had never been on the ground and had spent it's life covered on the back of my coach.

Let's face it. Even though Michelin recommends a 10 year life on RV tires, they are not going to magically explode in the 11th year. You know they left themselves some wiggle room in their published recommendation. Still I feel 10 years or so is a good time to replace them.

So the 13 year old tire no matter how well it was previously stored in my opinion ought to go.

I have never blown a tire on any vehicle and I own lots of older vehicles, but but you need to set the bar somewhere. My newest vehicle (a truck) is 10 years old 100,000+ miles and probably ready for new tires this year. I have Blazers at 16 and 17 years old that have had several sets of new tires in their life.

So run them until they wear out or around 10 years old.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire [message #279759 is a reply to message #279735] Fri, 12 June 2015 19:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Kilroy is currently offline  Mike Kilroy   United States
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Location: Farmersville, OH (near D...
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Hmmmm..  I know this 10yr rule is good..... but my 64 vette got its last  new tires around 1976.....  But it IS on its 6th free lifetime JC Penny replacement since 1971....

New GMC tires around 1995.  Guess I better think about new ones for it tho.

Thanks for the reminder!


Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone

-------- Original message --------From: Ken Burton Date:06/12/2015 8:26 PM (GMT-05:00) To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org Subject: Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire
I go with the 10 year old rule rule on RV tires as published stated by Michelin. I just a week ago replaced a 13 year old Michelin "spare" tire that
had never been on the ground and had spent it's life covered on the back of my coach.

Let's face it. Even though Michelin recommends a 10 year life on RV tires, they are not going to magically explode in the 11th year. You know they
left themselves some wiggle room in their published recommendation. Still I feel 10 years or so is a good time to replace them.

So the 13 year old tire no matter how well it was previously stored in my opinion ought to go.

I have never blown a tire on any vehicle and I own lots of older vehicles, but but you need to set the bar somewhere. My newest vehicle (a truck) is
10 years old 100,000+ miles and probably ready for new tires this year. I have Blazers at 16 and 17 years old that have had several sets of new tires
in their life.

So run them until they wear out or around 10 years old.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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Mike (AC8V) & Vickie Kilroy
'73 Canyon Land 26' sidebath
455/ceramic filled crossovers
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279760 is a reply to message #279733] Fri, 12 June 2015 20:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
habbyguy is currently offline  habbyguy   United States
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Thanks for all the input, folks... it's good to get a second (and third, and fourth, and fifth, and...) opinion.

I'm kinda where Ken is on this... I agree that a lot of six year old tires are really done, mainly those that have been left out in the elements for long periods of time. OTOH, there are guys like Mike Kilroy running tires that are old enough to vote and getting away with it.

The other six year old tires on my coach spent half their life inside in California, and most of the time in Arizona inside (along with about a year under cover). None of them show any weatherchecking at all, though I did have those two odd failures (I put up some photos on another thread). I'm convinced that those failures had nothing to do with age, but something that got on the tires and "dissolved" the rubber (if you look at the photos closely, you can see where the lettering in the area of the discoloration got "blurry").

I guess in the end, my to-do list includes...
1) Replace that 13 year old tire with something a whole lot newer
2) Start thinking about six new tires, though I'm not going to get my knickers in too tight a twist over it quite yet...


Mark Hickey Mesa, AZ 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire [message #279761 is a reply to message #279735] Fri, 12 June 2015 20:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Kilroy is currently offline  Mike Kilroy   United States
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JC penny lifetime Battery.  Sorry for typo.


Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
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Mike (AC8V) & Vickie Kilroy
'73 Canyon Land 26' sidebath
455/ceramic filled crossovers
Re: 13 year old "new" tire [message #279790 is a reply to message #279733] Sat, 13 June 2015 11:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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On that particular tire I'd be more concerned about what the nail severed in terms of critical fibres. There is no way of knowing the structural integrity. For me no nail patch job on heavy vehicles.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] 13 year old "new" tire [message #279819 is a reply to message #279760] Sat, 13 June 2015 18:59 Go to previous message
Mike Kilroy is currently offline  Mike Kilroy   United States
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One more opinion. I asked my buddy engineer in Akron area, who I have
worked with for 40 yrs, who has during this whole time worked for us,
then himself as consultant to, Goodyear, Goodrich, and then the Japanese
mfgrs as they bought up our American tire companies there. We have
signed many non-disclosure agreements with them over these years. I
would say he has a fair opinion of tire life based on how they are
manufactured. You may not want to know that a typical tire has about $
5.00 worth of purchased material in it....

He replied to my questions:

Ok let's keep it short answer.
UV kills tires (and almost anything else) so indoor storage really helps.
Reasonable temperature excursions don't matter too much, so unheated
barn/garage doesn't do much harm.
So now for the biggies: was the tire relatively unworn when put into
"storage"- a tire, say half worn out or more-will die faster under
storage conditions. was the tire inflated and subjected to supporting
the vehicle weight? That hurts life. Was the tire deflated and subjected
to the vehicle weight? That pretty much kills the tire after a few months.
So now we need to define what we plan on doing with the old tire. If it
was unloaded etc it's good for many years (10+) but not at high speed on
a 'vette". If it was loaded but not seriously deflated it's good for
several years (4-5).
Creatures gnawing on the tire really hurts. Ha ha.

Follow up question brought:

Keep them round and they avoid the usual failure modes (ply separation
belt stretch etc ) and are good for a long time. Drive the vette like
the motor home and don't worry. All will be well.

6/12/2015 9:00 PM, Mark wrote:
> Thanks for all the input, folks... it's good to get a second (and third, and fourth, and fifth, and...) opinion.

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Mike (AC8V) & Vickie Kilroy
'73 Canyon Land 26' sidebath
455/ceramic filled crossovers
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