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AFChap · 05-13-2008, 09:53 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">What do you think about putting tubes in 6 year old tires </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't see how that would make any difference in a tire coming apart due to age, etc. The tube sure wouldn't hold the tire together!

Now, putting a new tire around a 6 year old tube -- THAT might be a good idea!!

Forest Grump · 05-13-2008, 11:51 AM

I tried to tube a cut tire on the offroad jeep and the dealer said he cannot legally do so.

buckeyes · 05-13-2008, 01:31 PM

Now let us examine this issue. Driving down the road, 55-60 mph, all of your loved ones in the coach, traffic is heavy, wham, a blowout, you are swerving to avoid the truck next to you, and keep from hitting the guardrail. Now you are thinking, if only I had spent the money for new tires, none of this would have happened!
Why take a chance?

Kazoo Tom · 05-13-2008, 03:46 PM

We bought our Winnebago used a couple of years ago. Last summer I finally looked at the date code on the tires and found them to be 10 years old. They looked great, no weathering at all, and lots of tread - only 21,000 miles on the coach. They were Michelin XZA's.

Rather than risk failure I replaced them with Goodyear G670RV's. When the old tires were off the coach and dismounted we found hairline cracks in all the tread areas of each tire. Inside the casing we could see several cracks on the INSIDE of the tire. I had 6 failures just waiting for a place to happen. AGAIN, the tires when mounted visually looked wonderful, but, were a disaster waiting to happen.

When I bought the new ones I let the dealer know I was conscious of the date codes, all 6 replacement tires were less than 2 weeks old when purchased. It was expensive, yes, but the improvement in ride quality and peace of mind was well worth it.

AFChap · 05-13-2008, 04:07 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Inside the casing we could see several cracks on the INSIDE of the tire </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Personally, I believe dismounting and inspecting the INSIDE is the only way to properly inspect an old tire for safety. I plan to do that with my 6 yr old tires in a few months, and I'll have some new ones put on while I am inspecting the old ones!

Tom N · 05-13-2008, 04:21 PM

Mr_Bill · 05-14-2008, 09:47 AM

I just had to replace my tires. Had one go flat and when they tried to repair, it had a large bubble in the sidewall. Looked at the date and they were all from '02.

I replaced them all! Didn't want one coming apart at 60 mph and taking out the side of the coach.

I'd replace them.

Bill

historyljc · 05-15-2008, 07:54 PM

Tires are like politicians, when in doubt - throw them out. They may look good on the outside and be rotten inside.

NeilV · 05-16-2008, 11:04 AM

I just had a blowout this past Sunday from a road hazard. It took out the right rear outer which bowed the foward steel mud guard and accordian pleated the steel part of the rearward guard taking out the sidewall brace. The mudguard did its job of protecting the propane system behind it as it bent back and upwards shielding the hoses and piping. There was no loss of control as the inner held. There was no external body damage or loss of any other equipment.

I have AAA RV and after waiting an hour they arrived without the required tools to deal with putting on the spare. They wanted me to drive the inner up on a 12 inch long 4X4 after signing a waiver as they were going to bust off the simulator and take off the lugs hoping that the wind gusts of the passing highway traffic would not knock it off balance and roll my rig down into a gully. I didn't sign and it took over four additional hours to get another truck out that was properly equipped with a compressor, large wrenches, steel plates, rairoad ties, etc. Fifteen minutes and $200 later (I will had to put in for a refund from AAA) they had my spare on and the dead tire stored in the spare tire holder.

Today I just spent the day repairing the damaged mud guards etc and getting estimates on the replacement tire/tires. I was going to replace them all on principle this fall but may go for a full set right now. I will use a commercial truck outfit who will give me credit on the usable tread on my old tires as he will sell them to construction outfits who generally destroy their tires after a few months so buying new doesn't work out for them.

I couldn't avoid the road hazard without hitting other traffic but I can avoid having this happen again from waiting too long before replacing my old tires. I lost almost six hours Sunday getting home well after midnight and just lost a whole day dealing with the aftermath. If it was a front tire or if my wife had been driving (she is a very good driver but still not 100% comfortable with the rig) it could have been much much worse. If I didn't carry a spare I would have had to wait even longer for them to procure a replacement tire and mount it.

Don't mess with tires. Replace them well before they become a potential hazard to you, your's and those traveling down the same road with you.

historyljc · 05-16-2008, 05:33 PM

Glad you're OK Neil. Experience gives us wisdom.

AFChap · 05-16-2008, 06:09 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I couldn't avoid the road hazard without hitting other traffic but I can avoid having this happen again from waiting too long before replacing my old tires </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm all for replacing older tires before they become hazardous, but having new tires will not allow you to avoid a blowout from debris in the road -- road hazards are not respectors or tire age.

NeilV · 05-17-2008, 10:40 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by AFChap:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I couldn't avoid the road hazard without hitting other traffic but I can avoid having this happen again from waiting too long before replacing my old tires </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm all for replacing older tires before they become hazardous, but having new tires will not allow you to avoid a blowout from debris in the road -- road hazards are not respectors or tire age. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes and no. You have that nagging in the back of your mind that a newer tire with more tread on it may have not blown but just got cut up bad enough to need replacing.

Anyways at least I had a moments notice with the road hazard and was not blind sided by an over-age tire giving up the ghost without any warning.