So my ol' trusty BFGoodrich All-Terrain TAs still have plenty of tread on 'em but the shop says they're beginning to dry rot in the tread grooves so I can't get a sticker unless I replace them. Can't complain, bought the tires back in '97.
Anyway, the spare (same age) has never been used and there's no sign of dry rot on it. You suppose I can buy 3 new tires, make a full set with the spare (same identical tire of course), and use one of the old BFGs as a spare? I don't see why not, but I'm not a tire expert.
The BFGs are frighteningly expensive (I run 32x11.5s), so it would make a real difference.
fins2fuselage
10-27-2009, 02:08 PM
M-cook,
Not sure about truck tires, but passenger car tires have a life expectancy of about seven years regardless of whether they have been used or not. Heavy-duty, multi-ply-rated tires such as yours may be different.
If the tires on the truck show signs of sidewall failure (a bulge or a section of the tire which appears to have shifted sideways), or if the spare was stored in such a way that any aspect of the tire was compressed (hence distorted), I would suggest that you bite the bullet and spring for the four new ones.
And yes, I agree: the cost of new tires is horrendous. I can't believe that they can charge such prices in good conscience.
Jeff
mikehopkinsjr
10-27-2009, 02:21 PM
M-cook,
Not sure about truck tires, but passenger car tires have a life expectancy of about seven years regardless of whether they have been used or not. Heavy-duty, multi-ply-rated tires such as yours may be different.
If the tires on the truck show signs of sidewall failure (a bulge or a section of the tire which appears to have shifted sideways), or if the spare was stored in such a way that any aspect of the tire was compressed (hence distorted), I would suggest that you bite the bullet and spring for the four new ones.
And yes, I agree: the cost of new tires is horrendous. I can't believe that they can charge such prices in good conscience.
Jeff
because you have no choice but to buy them, just like gas they can charge whatever they want for it and most will have to buy it.
locogk
10-27-2009, 04:28 PM
just info only i work in the auto parts industry and i am being told that tires are getting ready to take a price jump
dizzyD
10-27-2009, 04:57 PM
The spare will have a melted in ID w/ datecode, this will also fail if the inspector looks. 12 years on a set of tires is great. the tires can self-destruct when too much speed is used. the dryrot is and indication of the rubber breaking down. tires with good tread will probably only be good for farm vehicles, now.
AMP762
10-27-2009, 05:47 PM
Don't do it.They will blow out with good tread on them.Don't ask how I know this.
MeenGreen5.2
10-27-2009, 05:56 PM
dont use old tires. get new ones bro, better be safe then sorry.... Why do you guys pay so much for a brand name? i got some 31x10 pathfinder tires for $100 a piece at a discount tire shop here in vegas, they had MEATY THREAD on em.
fins2fuselage
10-27-2009, 09:46 PM
because you have no choice but to buy them, just like gas they can charge whatever they want for it and most will have to buy it.
"Amen" to that, Mr. Mike!
Jeff
bherder
10-28-2009, 09:08 AM
Like anything else, you gotta be real leery these days about what you buy.
I've noticed more and more Made in China tires these days, even on name brand tires. And, like everything else they make, seem to be junk. I'll pay the extra and buy nothing but Cooper tires. Made in USA and quality units. Although, I gotta give props to the Toyo tires on our town trucks.. They seem to be of very good quality also.
BaggedIndy
10-28-2009, 09:26 AM
I wouldn't run it either. Just put my spare on my jeep after a blow out and made it about a half mile before the tread seperated, very little dry rot. I agree on the cooper and toyo. Toyo are great tires and decent prices.
Megunticook
10-28-2009, 03:16 PM
If the tires on the truck show signs of sidewall failure (a bulge or a section of the tire which appears to have shifted sideways), or if the spare was stored in such a way that any aspect of the tire was compressed (hence distorted), I would suggest that you bite the bullet and spring for the four new ones.
No sign of failure anywhere, just the dryrot on the 4 installed ones. The spare was stored horizontally.
And yes, I agree: the cost of new tires is horrendous. I can't believe that they can charge such prices in good conscience.
Supply and demand, and the cost of oil I presume...the free market at work.
Megunticook
10-28-2009, 03:18 PM
just info only i work in the auto parts industry and i am being told that tires are getting ready to take a price jump
Thanks for the tip. Seems to me the prices were a little higher last time I checked in the spring, wouldn't surprise me if they jumped back up.
Megunticook
10-28-2009, 03:19 PM
The spare will have a melted in ID w/ datecode, this will also fail if the inspector looks. 12 years on a set of tires is great. the tires can self-destruct when too much speed is used. the dryrot is and indication of the rubber breaking down. tires with good tread will probably only be good for farm vehicles, now.
Interesting...I was going to check with the shop about my plan first, I suppose that's the first thing they would've mentioned.
Megunticook
10-28-2009, 03:24 PM
dont use old tires. get new ones bro, better be safe then sorry.... Why do you guys pay so much for a brand name? i got some 31x10 pathfinder tires for $100 a piece at a discount tire shop here in vegas, they had MEATY THREAD on em.
Well, I figure if paying for a quality tire gets me 12 years out of the product, I actually saved a lot of money in the long run.
But I agree, BFG does add a premium to their price for the name. There are quality tires out there that perform and wear well for less--if you know which ones. In a lot of cases, you get what you pay for.
That said, I'm considering some Sport King ATs (virtually identical to the BFGs but $120 instead of $150 per tire), and the local Cooper dealer says he'll sell me their Trailcats installed for $500, trouble is I'd have to drop down to a 31."
But those BFGs were absolutely awesome. They handle virtually all road conditions well and lasted forever.
Megunticook
10-28-2009, 03:27 PM
Like anything else, you gotta be real leery these days about what you buy.
Ain't that the truth, Ruth.
I'll pay the extra and buy nothing but Cooper tires. Made in USA and quality units. Although, I gotta give props to the Toyo tires on our town trucks.. They seem to be of very good quality also.
Thanks for the tips there.
DiverDwnPowrRam
10-28-2009, 06:00 PM
WTH? Are we still talking about this?
bherder
10-28-2009, 07:01 PM
Well, this may be of interest...
http://www.usstuff.com/cartires.htm
Ed, I wouldn't worry one iota about 32" vs. 31" ... (32" is kinda an oddball size really.. Most oversize tires going into those ranges, generally jump from a 31" to a 33" ...) You'll never notice your rig being 1/2" lower. ;) Go for a quality tire that is easy on the wallet as possible...
Plus, as you've probably figured out and the season is almost here, you're better off using a 'skinnier' tire for plowing snow. (Unless of course you're using some bad-ass ice-biter chains ;) )
WTH? Are we still talking about this?
??? ;)
DiverDwnPowrRam
10-29-2009, 01:24 AM
WTH...what the hell...used in place of WTF. We all respect Ed because he is meticulous on doing something right...so it begs the question why are we even talking about still using an older tire for anything other then ranch/farm.
Megunticook
10-29-2009, 09:56 PM
because he is meticulous
Me? Meticulous? I think Bherder would say "obsessive"
But seriously, my truck is basically a farm truck at this point. I actually have farm plates now, because that's the only way I can get it stickered with rotten rockers and floor pan (I hope to replace those this year, but I said that last year too). Basically I plow, rake, go to the dump, and do middle-of-the-night in a snowstorm responses to fire calls (town is only 3 1/2 miles away). Legally I'm only supposed to go within a 20-mile radius.
I figured the spare might be perfectly safe since it wasn't worn at all. But y'all have corrected me in that rubber degrades over time, and therefore a tire that never sees service will still have a limited shelf life. So I'll spring for the set of 4 new ones and cough up the dough.
fins2fuselage
10-29-2009, 10:29 PM
Good choice, M-cook. I don't t hink you'll regret it.
And Maine is very generous with those farm use plates. It was only a ten mile radius in VA where I grew up. Not sure what it is in NC or if they even offer 'em -- and I've lived here for over twenty years!
Jeff
Megunticook
10-29-2009, 10:37 PM
And Maine is very generous with those farm use plates.
Yes, as long as the vehicle is mechanically safe to have on the road they'll overlook the rusted sheet metal.
volaredon
10-29-2009, 11:00 PM
I won't tell you how old the tires are on my 83 then.... but like yours they were "new" spares. and they have been to KY and WI and IN several times so far (knock on wood)
Firestone Steeltexes; one was free the other was a $40 find as a "take off" on Craigslist. (OK I'll tell; one's 12 years old the other's 17!) but have you priced out 235/85/16, load range E in any brand lately? The Dunlops that were on it, had deep dry rot cracks right around where they seat on the bead; these don't; but I will be keeping an eye on them; I watch things like that closer than most people I know. any signs of trouble and I will be pulling them!
Yeah I know about "old" tires; I spent 18 years dealing with tires and their problems for a living. But thats the best I can do for now. and with winter here that truck wont be going far, being that we have 2, 4WD Jeeps. (a Wrangler and a Cherokee)
on a side note, don't count out the local junkyards for tires. After the Kellys wore to the wear bars in only 24K miles on the wife's Cherokee, she put up a huge fuss about "spending money": I wanted to put a set of 4 new Michelins on (she drives the Cherokee mostly, not me; and she still didn't want me to replace the baldies); with snow right around the corner, and finding that when I did drive the Cherokee, if the roads were even a little wet, I had to run in 4WD. Ridiculous for just pavement even if it is wet. I had 2 damn near brand new Goodyear Wranglers sitting here given to me by a shop teacher buddy, a couple months ago in the right size. DOT number on them said they were about a year old. I went to the local yard and found that thanks to Cash 4 clunkers they had a abundance of like new take offs; I found the best pair out of the pile (same brand, model, and most even tread wear) and went to the counter; $20 each! so I got a near new set of tires on there for a total of $40 (remember I had 2 here already)
The 2 I put on the front are the same size as the 2 I had here already, but I went in looking for the deepest tread closest matched pair; got BFG Long Trail TA's; they actually had the whole set of 4 but since the Goodyears I had at home were a bit more aggressive, I only bought the 2. and yeah I checked the DOT numbers on those; made in 06.
Now mind you I hate Goodyears; I have never had very good luck out of them; IDK if they use rubber that is too "hard" or what, but they have never been very good on traction, regardless how deep the tread was. (this pr dont seem that bad though so far) I have bought several vehicles with Goodyears and could never wait til the 1st chance to get rid of 'em. but winter's here, I could not run the bald Kellys, the Goodyears were free so I had to use em. Hopefully at tax time I can get those Michelins.
If I have a problem with these tires for $20/ea I cant bitch that much. I'll just go get another. We put the 24K on the Kellys in 18 months and I spent over $400 for those; so for $40., if they get me thru the winter so be it.
They had 3 different tires in my size that were new, but none of them matched the other (Wrangler, Wrangler RT/S and a Bridgestone something or other) and I wanted a matched pair especially for the front axle.
