Date on my Michelin Tires

[Serenity00]

We bought our 1st RV in November from a dealer. A 98 Fleetwood Southwind Storm with 60,000 mi. Fellow RV'er say the tire should be changed when they are 5 years old. Well, the tires are Michelin X Pilot XZA 225/70R 19.5 125/123 L Dot B6YB 2FCX277. Who can tell me the age of this tire... They do look in good shape but you can't go by looks.
Thank
Mike

[Rich and Cork]

Here ya go on how to decipher things:

Tire Tech Information - Determining the Age of a Tire

[Sky_Boss]

I believe that is the 27th week of 1997!

http://www.winnebagoind.com/resource...te%20Codes.pdf

[Pusherman]

Keep reading. On the Michelin tires there should be either a 3-number or most likely a 4-number date code after the DOT jargon. If it's a 4 number date code, such as 0403, that states the tire was manufactured week 04 (last week in January) of year 2003. Any date before this is a 10 year old tire, and should be replaced.

If the date code has only 3 numbers, such as 399, the tire was manufactured before January 1, 2001, and is 12 years old.

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

I believe that is the 27th week of 1997!

http://www.winnebagoind.com/resource...te%20Codes.pdf

Times two...

The last three digits of Dot B6YB 2FCX277. stand for the 27th week of 1997.

You've gotcherself some OEM tires there, O.P.!

But at 16 years old, they're probably a little past due for replacement...

[Serenity00]

Great...Just great.. With that information it's probably a good guess that the coach batteries are also OEM from day 1... 2- Trojan 105
Thanks everyone

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Serenity00

We bought our 1st RV in November from a dealer. A 98 Fleetwood Southwind Storm with 60,000 mi. Fellow RV'er say the tire should be changed when they are 5 years old. Well, the tires are Michelin X Pilot XZA 225/70R 19.5 125/123 L Dot B6YB 2FCX277. Who can tell me the age of this tire... They do look in good shape but you can't go by looks.
Thank
Mike

Ignore that old wives tale about tires needing to be replaced after 5 years. Even Michelin doesn't say that. They say to have them inspected yearly starting at the 5th year and absolutely replaced at 10 years.

[Sky_Boss]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Ignore that old wives tale about tires needing to be replaced after 5 years. Even Michelin doesn't say that. They say to have them inspected yearly starting at the 5th year and absolutely replaced at 10 years.

Still, his tires are almost 16 years old. Time to go I think...don't you agree?

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

Still, his tires are almost 16 years old. Time to go I think...don't you agree?

Not to mention that since they're older than the rig they're on they must be original and therefore have 60,000 miles on them.

[SteveCal]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Ignore that old wives tale about tires needing to be replaced after 5 years. Even Michelin doesn't say that. They say to have them inspected yearly starting at the 5th year and absolutely replaced at 10 years.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally someone else who has done the research. I don't know where this five and seven year tire age limit got started (in the 1950's?) but four manufacture representatives refused to give me even a wild guess as to number years limit of service for RV tires. I e-mailed the manufacturers and I called then on the phone. None. I repeat, NONE, would give a years of service limit on their tires. Load limits, air pressure, speed, sidewall and tread depth is all they would talk about as far as recommending replacement.

O.K. That is all I have to say about it. Have at it.
Signed: Non-expert tire consumer.

[Mr_D]

Toyo's take on tire life:

Proper Inspection and Storage of Tires
Before taking your RV on a trip, make it a practice to inspect the overall condition of your tires and inflate the tires to the proper air pressure, especially when removing it from a long period of storage. A thorough check should include both inside and outside sidewalls, tread area, and the condition of hardware such as valve stems, valve caps, and wheels. The tread should be checked for any unusual wear, cracking, penetrations, and/or cuts.
An uneven wear pattern can indicate misalignment or worn suspension parts. Check for any type of condition or damage that might result in failure.
Since many RVs are used seasonally and sometimes stored for extended times, it is possible that tires will take many years to wear out. Tires, as any rubber product, will age over time. If tires show cracking in the sidewall or tread surface that is more than 2/32nds, they should be replaced before your next trip or vacation. Store your RV in a cool, dry area away from major heat sources and extreme cold. An enclosed area is best with no exposure to electromagnetic sources such as generators or transformers.
If you must keep your RV outside, cover your tires from direct sunlight.
Take your RV to your Toyo Tire dealer for service to check or correct any of these conditions.

From Michelin:

Michelin Technical Bulletin
May 15, 2006

Service Life for RV/Motorhome Tires

The following recommendation applies to RV/Motorhome tires. Tires are composed of various types of material and rubber compounds, having performance properties essential to the proper functioning of the tire itself. These component properties evolve over time. For each tire, this evolution depends upon many factors such as weather, storage conditions, and conditions of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, maintenance, etc.) to which the tire is subjected throughout its life. This service-related evolution varies widely so that accurately predicting the serviceable life of any specific tire in advance is not possible.

That is why, in addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance by consumers, it is recommended to have RV/Motorhome tires, including spare tires, inspected regularly by a qualified tire specialist, such as a tire dealer, who will assess the tire’s suitability for continued service. Tires that have been in use for 5 years or more should continue to be inspected by a specialist at least annually.

Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware not only of their tires’ visual condition and inflation pressure, but also of any change in dynamic performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration, which could be an indication that the tires need to be removed from service to prevent tire failure.

It is impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based on their calendar age alone. However, the older a tire the greater the chance that it will need to be replaced due to the service-related evolution or other conditions found upon inspection or detected during use.

While most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10 years, it is recommended that any tires in service 10 years or more from the date of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as a simple precaution even if such tires appear serviceable and even if they have not reached the legal wear limit.

For tires that were on an original equipment vehicle (i.e., acquired by the consumer on a new vehicle), follow the vehicle manufacturer’s tire replacement recommendations, when specified (but not to exceed 10 years).

The date when a tire was manufactured is located on the sidewall of each tire. Consumers should locate the Department of Transportation or DOT code on the tire that begins with DOT and ends with the week and year of manufacture. For example, a DOT code ending with “0304” indicates a tire made in the 3rd week (Jan) of 2004.