RE: [Chrysler300] Bias Tires and Longevity

["C Bilter" <cbilter@xxxxxxxxx>]

Not to start any further controversies or to bloviate about tires, but I
agree it would be a waste of money to replace like new 6 or even 10 year old
tires on a collector car that have been properly maintained and where the
vehicle or tire has been stored in a garage especially if climate
controlled.  The guidelines probably have more to do with litigation and are
designed for average drivers with "daily driver" vehicles many of whom don't
keep their tires properly inflated and probably pay more attention to their
cell phone than their driving anyway.  I actually have 28 year old tires
that I bought new on one car that have been maintained and look like brand
new (on the outside), and they were premium Vogue tires back when that brand
was highly respected and not the junk that passes under the Vogue brand now.
I have driven on them this year still, but not far, not fast, and not on the
highway.  Yep, they might just go flat sitting in the garage which is a
minor inconvenience at best, but out on the highway  - you couldn't pay me
to use them.  I think it is like working under a 300 with only a floor jack
and no jack stands.  Been there, done that.  Do at your own risk. 

 

300ly,

Carl

  _____  

From: Michael Moore [mailto:mmoore8425@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 3:46 PM
To: C Bilter
Cc: 'Ryan Hill'; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Bias Tires and Longevity

 

Ryan, 

I have seen folks back away from saying any tires are good past 6 years or
at the most 10 years. People get on the safety soapbox and you'll soon feel
gulty!

 For me, its a waste of money to replace perfectly good looking unworn tires
with low miles because they're 6 years old!

 

So I tracked down and finally got an honest to God tire engineer at the head
office in the US for Michelin, and was able to have a good discussion with
him about it. He made me stop using the word "unsafe". He said that old
tires were not unsafe, they would just go flat and I should not scare
people. He said how long a tire can last was a function of how it was
stored. In my case, in a cool garage outside of sunlight was perfect. He
said if he was going to drive tires past 10 years, he'd have  a tire broken
down and inspect the INSIDE of the carcass  for cracking, assuming the
outside is ok. Also, I am a conservative driver. (I am no longer 25 driving
my 300H at 135 mph on I 20! )

 

So, I took one of my like new 12 year old tires off of my TR3, had it broken
down and inspected, replaced it and drove the car from Morgan Hill, Ca to
Lake Tahoe and back, and drove the tires for  another 2 years. I finally
replaced them in order to put the correct sized tires on the car.

Mike Moore

300H   

On Sep 2, 2011, at 12:18 PM, C Bilter wrote:





  

Hi Ryan- 

Not sure how many have responded to you off-server, but no one responded
on-server yet. In my opinion, unless your bias ply tires have been
"hermetically sealed in the executive washroom at Funk & Wagnalls" they are
not safe, at least on the highway. Rubber breaks down from exposure to the
air, and deterioration is accelerated by sun (UV rays) and temperature.
They can and will deteriorate from the inside when mounted as well. When
sitting for long periods, bias ply tires will "flat spot" and the rubber
gets hard as a rock. Radials have the added problem of steel belts
corroding, and if they blow the steel belts can also inflict further damage
to an already potential catastrophic outcome.

Some folks say tires used to be better made in the 60s/70s/80s. That is
anecdotal. From a technological perspective, modern radial tires are far
better engineered and safer especially at higher speeds. Just get a high
quality, name brand tire. Better safe than sorry.

300ly,

Carl Bilter

_____ 

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
Behalf Of Ryan Hill
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 5:35 PM
To: Ryan Hill
Subject: [Chrysler300] Bias Tires and Longevity

There has been a lot of talk, on and off this listserve, about radial tires
and expiration dates, safety, and performance in the past couple of years.
Out of curiosity, does anyone know if bias ply tires are any more durable in
terms of age than a radial? 

I ask because I have a beautiful looking set of Uniroyal H78-14 on my 1965
300 that I bought for my first 300 back in 1987 or so. They have low milage
but have been mounted on my cars while in storage since about 1990. I had
not planned to drive very far on them, given they're 24 years old, but
wonder if they deteriorate in the same manner radials do? How unsafe are
they? 

My father pulled a classic boat around on some bias ply truck tires from the
early 60's for the better part of 30 years without failure.

Ryan Hill 

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