Death on an old tire with good tread

[Kern Dog]

A particular politician of latin descent, not noted for brilliant thinking.

Well, we agree on that!

[RiverRaider]

From time to time I do run vintage tires and wheels on my cars.  Mickey Thompson Indy profiles, Formula 1 Super stocks and Firestone Super Sports.  I avoid high speed and aggressive steering when I run them.
I do not have them on the ground for more than a few days at a time and I store them in the dark in a climate controlled area when not in use.  These are all bias tires and if I run a tube in them they are powdered
to reduce friction.   I put enough miles on my daily drivers that the tires are used up before they hit 4-5 years.  I change tires every 4-5 years on my 3/4 and larger trucks, and every four years on the trailer including the spares,
those vehicles are stored inside.  I have found some yards will no longer sell the spare tires off of crashed trucks due to having many fail when used.

[John_Kunkel]

Uv rays eat tires. Open atmosphere eats tires. The rubber compound today is not what it was 10 years ago, and not what is was in the past. Period.

If you believe the tire manufacturers, they will tell you today's tires are better because they have reformulated the rubber to deal with the unfriendly atmosphere.

[odcics2]

I agree. WTF happened to durability?

More ozone in the atmosphere than in years past.

No.
Don't believe nor spread the lies from the AOC crowd.

And don't drink the red coolaid.   

[Kern Dog]

Uv rays eat tires. Open atmosphere eats tires. The rubber compound today is not what it was 10 years ago, and not what is was in the past. Period.

If you believe the tire manufacturers, they will tell you today's tires are better because they have reformulated the rubber to deal with the unfriendly atmosphere.

I believe that today's tires do everything better than tires of the 1970s era. Better traction for braking and cornering for sure.

[RiverRaider]

Uv rays eat tires. Open atmosphere eats tires. The rubber compound today is not what it was 10 years ago, and not what is was in the past. Period.

If you believe the tire manufacturers, they will tell you today's tires are better because they have reformulated the rubber to deal with the unfriendly atmosphere.

I believe that today's tires do everything better than tires of the 1970s era. Better traction for braking and cornering for sure.

Except for looking cool and having the best advertising posters.  Hard to beat the tires from the 70's and 80's at that game especially Pro Trac's posters.

[Kern Dog]

Yeah....Tire ads from days gone by were pretty cool. Even the BF Goodrich ads of the 80s were great with the classic cars and different color backgrounds.

[ACUDANUT]

 Usually tires give you hints of going bad. Cracks and threads bulging. I have 8 ply tires (very thick) on my F350.  They are over 15 years old and are in perfect condition.

[paironines]

What kind of car was the guy driving that was in the rollover?

[alfaitalia]

Usually tires give you hints of going bad. Cracks and threads bulging. I have 8 ply tires (very thick) on my F350.  They are over 15 years old and are in perfect condition.

Not always true. I've removed what looked to be good tyres from the outside to find the inside is breaking up. Over here you would probably have void insurance for running such old tyres...for good reason. Even most major manufacturers recommend no more than 6 years....ok you might say "they would, wouldn't they".....but I'm sorry but no fifteen year old tyre is in "perfect condition". If nothing else the rubber is now rather harder than it was 15 years ago..increasing your stopping  distance in an emergency...and more likely to blow out in the event of getting a puncture. Is it really worth the risk to you or others for the cost of a set of tyres?....and they are much cheaper over there too...lol. I bet a new set would "feel" loads better too. You don't tend to notice the slow degradation of tyres...until you fit new ones. But hey...at the end of the day is your choice.

[green69rt]

Here's a nice little article on tire aging.  I don't agree with every little point but, overall, it gives a good explanation of the process.

https://www.liveabout.com/the-science-of-tire-aging-3234377

[Kern Dog]

Over here you would probably have void insurance for running such old tyres...for good reason. Even most major manufacturers recommend no more than 6 years....

Not trying to pick a fight with you but I noticed a few times that when you write about your country's laws or regulations, you justify them.
Many Americans remember why our ForeFathers left England...To escape oppression. For 190-210 years, we lived free and somewhat without too much Government over-reach. That has changed in the last 20 years or so...Many of us detest the nanny state that America is heading toward. I don't care for laws that try to put people in a plastic bubble where they can do no harm to themselves at any time.
To bend over for increased fines, heavy handed regulation and increased government control is a very sad thing.

[alfaitalia]

Ok...but a very poor example in this case. Old tyres are not safe ..period. As proven very well by the OP. So your "freedom" to use them potentially risks someone elses life....what about their rights. We introduce laws like that to protect the masses from the idoit few who wouldv run on ancient bald tyres without some sort of law. Unfortunately (when I was not looking) they banned common sense!....so theses laws come in. You seem to think your country is so different but they are not (your insane gun laws aside).sure we pay more tax...but we get more for it...if the majority did not like it we vote in a new government and get things changed....but in reality we are not so different. Even me and you....I vote to the right (Conservative...as most Southerners do).I'm just not as FAR to the right as you!

[Kern Dog]

Okay...........
Old tires: Sure, some of them have been know to fail but not enough to even be called a majority of them.
I already can hear your response to that... All it takes is ONE to cause what could be a fatal mistake!
Using old tires for relatively low speed, low stress driving is not likely to be any trouble....IF you do have a blowout and are a competent driver that isn't eating Chinese food with chopsticks while the tire blows out, you are likely to be fine. Driver skill Trumps accidents in most cases but too many people look to blame others for their own stupidity, the lawyers look to insulate their company's interests and this results in OVER-regulation.
I am not advocating going on a road course and turning laps at 125 mph on 12 year old tires that have been exposed to the weather since they were new.
I have seen NEW tires fail. I have seen OLD tires with cracks in the tread run and run without a failure. We all know that both of those tires are unusual examples but they do happen.
I just see society going bonkers in the name of "safety" or at least the illusion of safety. I hate it. I see bullshit safety regulations being implemented in the construction industry and all it does is slow us down and make the job harder to do...AND more expensive for everyone.
You have to know that while there is some truth to the risks, there is also an overwhelming amount of importance placed on avoiding LAWSUITS from any automotive accident that can be blamed on the equipment rather than the driver.
If you "Idiot Proof" a product, people just evolve into a different type of idiot and get hurt some other way.

[alfaitalia]

Good post. I absolutely agree. People will take more risks in their car with ABS, strong safety cell, air bags as they "know" that they are much safer than in old cars. Its human nature. I will admit that I take more risks in my cars than my bikes....where I pay a much higher price if I (or more often some one else!) makes a mistake....says the man with 4 titanium plates and 60 screws in his left arm!! I often wonder how much safer people would be and how much the accident rate would go down if say, instead of an airbag, a 12inch polished stainless steel spike came out of the steering wheel. I bet the idiots would think a little harder about driving safely then!...LOL.

[b5blue]

   Boy you guys are on a roll here. Having a real blowout about flat making your point. Really stacking the variables to meet your position isn't needed. Replacing tires is my personal choice but then so is having top condition brakes. It is more about how when and where to spend money, the "skill" aspect is mute as there will always be someone so stupid as to overcome you and your car's ability and condition. 

[Kern Dog]

Glad we got this cleared up! That is not a MOOT point.
MUTE is a different thing altogether....

[b5blue]

Mute as in unheard or not observed. An older tire is in fact more prone to failure regardless of the drivers skill. Hence skill is mute in regards to tire age. I made no reference to the term "Moot Point" so you must have felt the urge to nit pic.    Anyway I'm still replacing my 6 year old spare with a fresh new tire and you are welcome to the old one if you like! 

[Kern Dog]

Trying to be friendly here...
Moot means unimportant, irrelevant. If a man leaves a building and it collapses, calling the Paramedics at that time would be a moot point.
Mute means unable to speak, total silence.
To say or write It is a mute point isn't correct.

[b5blue]

Right I never used the term "mute point". I used the word mute as in it's own silence of "not applicable" the topic. (Aged tire failure.)  Let's not argue minutia and go back to having fun.  (Now I find myself commentating commenting!   )   

[Kern Dog]

This is what I have found. I don't see your definition here but am I missing it?
I always associated MUTE with a lack of speech, the inability to make sounds orally.....Or the button on the Tv remote that silences the audio. I am not seeing it the way that you see it.

mute adjective
\ ˈmyüt  \
muter; mutest
Definition of mute (Entry 1 of 4)
1 : unable to speak : lacking the power of speech
2 : characterized by absence of speech: such as
a : felt or experienced but not expressed
touched her hand in mute sympathy
her mute hostility
b : refusing to plead directly or stand trial
the prisoner stands mute
3 : remaining silent, undiscovered, or unrecognized
The hounds generally hunt mute, so they can get close to the game.
4a : contributing nothing to the pronunciation of a word
the b in plumb is mute
b : contributing to the pronunciation of a word but not representing the nucleus of a syllable
the e in mate is mute
mute noun
Definition of mute (Entry 2 of 4)
1 : STOP sense 9
2 sometimes offensive : a person who cannot speak
3 : a device attached to or inserted into a musical instrument to soften or alter its tone
mute verb (1)
muted; muting
Definition of mute (Entry 3 of 4)
transitive verb

1 : to muffle, reduce, or eliminate the sound of
2 : to tone down : SOFTEN, SUBDUE
mute a color
mute verb (2)
muted; muting

[c00nhunterjoe]

Uv rays eat tires. Open atmosphere eats tires. The rubber compound today is not what it was 10 years ago, and not what is was in the past. Period.

If you believe the tire manufacturers, they will tell you today's tires are better because they have reformulated the rubber to deal with the unfriendly atmosphere.

I speak from 1st hand experience as i worked for the us military in testing and development. I tested tires among other things.

[MoparMotel]

wow, just looked at mine and they are 2005. They are 95% tread 

[green69rt]

wow, just looked at mine and they are 2005. They are 95% tread 

Safe, as long as you don't exceed 10 MPH.

[John_Kunkel]

i worked for the us military in testing and development. I tested tires among other things.

Ah, so you're familiar with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole? (always love to say that)