ANYONE ever having to replace RV tires needs to read this!!!

[leedowney]

Hey guys. A friend of mine at work overheard me talking about going and buying new front tires for my coach this weekend. He had remembered watching an ABC special about tire dealers all over the US selling tires that were 5-12 years old as brand new tires. The experts recommend a shelf life of no more than 6 years for a tire no matter what the tread looks like.

It's a great video that shows you exactly how to read the DOT code printed on all tires that show the exact week and year your tire was manufactured. It will usually be a 4 digit number located at the end of the other DOT numbers. The first two numbers tell you the week it was made and the last 2 numbers represent the year. Example; 4302 means your tire was made the 43rd week of 2002.

What's scary is I just came in from my coach and my 4 new rear tires are okay. They were made in the 3rd week of 2009. I just bought them in December when I purchased the coach. But my 2 front Michelin tires read 389. Yes, that means they were made in the 39th week of 1999!!! OMG, I've driven for the past 4 months on 11 year old tires and didn't know it. If not for the sidewall bulge I noticed this past weekend, I would not be replacing them this weekend.

When I have my new Michelins installed this weekend, I will certainly check the DOT date on the sidewall first. I suggest you guys do the same. Knowledge is power.

Here is the video link to the ABC special. It's worth your time watching it.

Aged Tires: A Driving Hazard? - ABC News

[PNWGirl]

Thanks for the info Lee, I will definately be checking all of my tires now!

Sheila

[Eddie Foy]

Who sold you 11 YO tires as new?

Quote:

Originally Posted by leedowney Hey guys. A friend of mine at work overheard me talking about going and buying new front tires for my coach this weekend. He had remembered watching an ABC special about tire dealers all over the US selling tires that were 5-12 years old as brand new tires. The experts recommend a shelf life of no more than 6 years for a tire no matter what the tread looks like. It's a great video that shows you exactly how to read the DOT code printed on all tires that show the exact week and year your tire was manufactured. It will usually be a 4 digit number located at the end of the other DOT numbers. The first two numbers tell you the week it was made and the last 2 numbers represent the year. Example; 4302 means your tire was made the 43rd week of 2002. What's scary is I just came in from my coach and my 4 new rear tires are okay. They were made in the 3rd week of 2009. I just bought them in December when I purchased the coach. But my 2 front Michelin tires read 389. Yes, that means they were made in the 39th week of 1999!!! OMG, I've driven for the past 4 months on 11 year old tires and didn't know it. If not for the sidewall bulge I noticed this past weekend, I would not be replacing them this weekend. When I have my new Michelins installed this weekend, I will certainly check the DOT date on the sidewall first. I suggest you guys do the same. Knowledge is power. Here is the video link to the ABC special. It's worth your time watching it. Aged Tires: A Driving Hazard? - ABC News

[leedowney]

No one sold me 11 year old tires. The previous owner that I bought the coach from this past December told me the tires were replaced about 5 years ago. They weren't replaced 5 years ago, THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES that Winnebago put on my coach at the time it was built. The tires I plan on purchasing Saturday will be looked at closely for this 4 digit code on the sidewall. If they are more than 2 years old, I'm not buying them.

[chasfm11]

We put on our 2nd set of tires last year and I personally inspected each tire to verify that DOT code. I knew the date of the last run of the 22.5 inch tire from Michelin and wanted to make sure that all 6 tires that I was buying were from the run.

What was interesting is that the warehouse wouldn't guarantee that date code. I had to shop around to the local dealers to see who had that code tire in stock. Their attitude was that any tire that came from their warehouse was a "fresh tire". I figure that is fine for those who don't care to ask. I asked.

We are the kind of folks who don't put milk into our basket without checking the date. If I'm going to do that with milk, I'm sure as heck going to do it with tires.

[NLOVNIT]

My DH came across this being discussed on the Yahoo Bounders Forum in 2008 & told me about it then. Quite an eye opener. I've kept it in mind & made sure I saw the DOT codes on replacement tires we've put on our cars ever since. I've even got a little sticky note attached to our Bounder portfolio (the one with all the manuals in it) saying "check DOT codes" to remind me to do so when it comes time for new tires on our coach.

Lori-

[Wayne M]

I was aware of this from the MOC forum 2 years ago. I had seen where it had been hashed out several times in several locations, including a 1 hour shows, 60, or 20 20, and had just assumed (yep me and who) the word had gotten around. When I replaced tires on the 3400RL I told the tire company I wanted to see the tires before mounting, and that I would be looking at the manufacture date code. Anything that was not within 1 year would be rejected. They did not have a problem with my request.

I will continue to use that strategy and if the dealer does not like it, I'll go some where else.

[John H...]

Lee, I watched that ABC special. My MH is in snow with wheel covers on. I will check them first chance I get, but I will be replacing them this year. It is an 04, but more importantly when I get the new tires I will be looking at the date before purchase. Good post. John H....

[a k]

I wouldn't buy a new tire that has been on the shelf for 6 years either. 3 months old maximum or they can keep them.

[wagonmaster2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasfm11 We put on our 2nd set of tires last year and I personally inspected each tire to verify that DOT code. I knew the date of the last run of the 22.5 inch tire from Michelin and wanted to make sure that all 6 tires that I was buying were from the run. What was interesting is that the warehouse wouldn't guarantee that date code. I had to shop around to the local dealers to see who had that code tire in stock. Their attitude was that any tire that came from their warehouse was a "fresh tire". I figure that is fine for those who don't care to ask. I asked. We are the kind of folks who don't put milk into our basket without checking the date. If I'm going to do that with milk, I'm sure as heck going to do it with tires.

How did you find the date of Michelin's last run of 22.5 tires, will they tell you over the phone if you call them? I'm definitely with you on the date checking of milk, we also do it with bread and particularly any meats we purchase.

Since Michelin only makes a run every so often I wonder what is a reasonable age for new tires? I called the local shop last week checking on the price of 6 255/80/22.5 Michlens and he said the warehouse in OKC did have six of them on hand but that was all in the district. Even Dallas didn't have any.

Wagonmaster2

[Vegasdan]

I just put a set of Toyos on my Tradewinds. When I called the dealer I asked about the dates on the tires. Since he gets them from a warehouse he didn't know what he'd get. I said I wanted to be sure they all were less that one year old. I got 5 that were from nov 09 and 1 from Jan 10.

[Elkhartjim]

Like WayneM, I thought all knew about this concern (problem) as it has been discussed on almost all rv forums for years. Of course a friend of mine with a half million dollar motorhome was puzzled when I asked him how much it weighed fully loaded. His response...what difference does it make?

[georgetown350]

Quote:

But my 2 front Michelin tires read 389. Yes, that means they were made in the 39th week of 1999!!!

is 389 a mistype? should it be 3899?

[Route 66]

1999 was the last year a 3 digit date code was used.

More here.