Re: [Chrysler300] Bias Tires and Longevity

[Michael Moore <mmoore8425@xxxxxxx>]

Loren,
IN 1968 or so I bought an early set of Michelin X tires for my 300H. As time went by, I replaced tires as they wore out. I had tires blow out and also lost belts. I never had a problem losing control of the car. Being thrifty minded and often broke, I usually replaced the most worn/blownout tires first. 

I continued replacing tires on at a time  ($) until 1982 when I parked the car because it was burning copious amount of oil even after replacing valve seals. At 250,000 miles, it was due for a rebuild. 
The car sat parked behind the house for several years on 4 flat Michelin X's. It was in illinois and sat through sunlight and freezing weather. In 1982, I pumped up the tires and had the car towed to a garage. 

Over the next two years they rebuilt the car mechanically while I moved to California. In 1986, I flew to Illinois, picked up the car, and drove it home.  I drove the car to a Michelin dealer in Quincy, Illinois, asking to buy a new set of tires. He said the ones I had were just fine and I didn't need to replace them. None of the tires could have been less than 10 years old, and they had all been horribly abused. 

I lost  those tires on the road.  They lost belts one at a time. I'd put the spare on, drive to a used tire store, and put the spare back in the trunk as a spare. I did not want to buy a set of tires on the road. I repeated this through all 4 tires. They car was never in danger, including the one blowout on the road. 

I personally would not be afraid to drive old tires, but I would be prepared  both with a good spare and keeping both hands on the steering wheel. I would also not use that car to drive to the airport to catch a flight! I'd have a plan in mind as to what to do if I lost one.
I think also it depends on where you are. Simple flat tires can be, and have been fatal on some California freeways unless you keep driving on the flat to the next offramp.  
 
Mike Moore
 
   


On Sep 3, 2011, at 10:02 AM, loren nelson wrote:

> I have owned a 37 Studebaker for 46 years. The tires were old when I bought it. I have driven it very few miles since. 3 of those tires are still on the car. I replaced a bald one with a flea-market tire of unknown age recently. I have been driving it some in the last couple years but not on the highway. I have had it up to around 50 mph a couple times and have had no problems. The car is rough looking and new tires would not fit the image. I have a set of radials on my G that were bought in the mid 80's and still look like new. Again I rarely drive it on the highway, but have had it briefly to around 70 a couple times without a problem. The cars have been stored in an airconditioned garage for the past 20 years. 
> Loren Nelson in Hotlanta
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: C Bilter 
> To: 'Ryan Hill' 
> Cc: chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 3:18 PM
> Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] Bias Tires and Longevity
> 
> 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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 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 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 



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