I had a bad experience with old tires...


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Posted by Ken Dunnington on Friday, May 09, 2008 at 16:20:34 :

In Reply to: Re: More on tire safety (tire age) posted by MoparMogSteve on Friday, May 09, 2008 at 15:30:34 :

I flipped my 1955 Pontiac Chieftain onto it's top, crushing it in almost to the steering wheel right above my head. I hit the brakes very suddenly when I saw a pickup pulling a horsetrailer pull out in front of me. I was going about 50-55 mph(incidentally, State Trooper estimated my speed much lower). I stabbed the brakes(stock original non-power drum brakes), the passenger side rear tire blew out and I was along for the ride as the car went sideways in an instant.

I was very lucky as I went sideways across oncoming traffic on Highway 34 west of Loveland(Big T canyon), blowing out the passenger front tire as well. I hit no other vehicles and was wearing a seatbelt. The smell of gasoline got me out of the car with an older gentleman right at the window to help while admonishing the much younger folks standing up on the road watching. It seemed like I immediately got out of the car but the fact that this fellow was down next to me and others were up on the roadside when I got out, bumping my head on the roof dazed me a bit more than I thought at the time.

The tire was a BFG Radial TA, 245/70R14, IIRC, that had 50% tread left but was 10 years old and weather checked. Tires had not been run low on pressure(I normally ran them close to max), had not been rotated, no offroad abuse or overloaded.

No more old tires for me. I sold a set of 33-12.50-15 BFG ATs a few years ago that had plenty of tread left but were 8 years old and were showing some checking. I told the guy I sold them to exactly why I was getting rid of them. Tires are cheap compared to mine and others' health/lives and I miss my Chieftain too.

Make your own choices. Me, when it comes to a tubeless radial tire, I don't want it to even look old, regardless of tread depth. The old appearing bias tires with tubes in them are a different story altogether in my book.

Oh, and I was issued a ticket for having old tires due to the weather checking.

Ken



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