Re: [FWDLK] Fwd: A tire safety issue worth watching - video

[Terry & Andree Hoeman <tehoema@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have become a believer in the tire danger.

Few years ago I had trailer tire blow from out of nowhere.    No issues with 
it and it looked great until 50 miles down the road.  It was probably 7 or 
so years old and I replaced the whole set even though they looked fine.

Just had rear tire blow on our van when on interstate a few weeks ago also 
from out of nowhere on good looking tires which I believe were sold to me 
after being on the shelf too long.  replaced the last other one of the set 
at that time.  Had been 4 new Michelins which all went bad on me one way or 
another.  Lots of tread left and looked fine but----

I have been hearing of this problem for years now and it seems to revolve 
around steel belted tires to me.

I have tires which I put on our 50 Chrysler wagon in 1970 which I just drove 
around KC interstate on last fall which I don't worry about--much.  Wouldn't 
take them on long drive though.  They are showing age checking in the 
whitewall by now.

Oh BTW have talked with a couple of insurance company employees who believe 
there is a problem with radial tires aging also.  We will know 30 years from 
now maybe.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jason Rogers" <jasonrogers@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 7:01 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Fwd: A tire safety issue worth watching - video


> That is an interesting video clip.
>
> Not to dilute the severe risk associated with tire failure, how many 
> MILLIONS of tires are currently (a) in service, and (b) on store shelves 
> that would be considered "too old" - and compare that with how many tires 
> actually fail within the population of millions?  I should take note for 
> myself:  My '55 Belvedere has 20-year-old tires installed so, by 
> definition of the 20/20 video, it is a rolling death trap by its tires 
> alone.
>
> As usual, the mass media has presented an issue almost entirely one-sided. 
> The US rubber spokesman asked a very good question in return, "What 
> SCIENTIFIC basis is there for imposing an age limit on tires?" - but he 
> was given very little air time, relative to the air time given for the 
> "other side" of the story.  The casual viewer may construe the rubber dude 
> as unsympathetic and/or callous, but let's stick to the facts.  If tire 
> age was the leading factor in the failures that have resulted in tragic 
> accidents, SCIENCE would dictate that there would be MILLIONS of tire 
> failures (and accidents) every year.
>
> There are many other factors to consider that contribute to a fatal 
> vehicle accident.  Notice that most (if not all) the vehicles shown were 
> SUVs or vans - vehicles with high centers of gravity compared to normal 
> passenger cars.  Unfortunately there are MILLIONS of SUVs/vans in this 
> country, and there are some with better handling characteristics than 
> others.  What about vehicle speed?  What about inflation pressure?  What 
> about accelerated wear due to misalignment?  What about the tire load 
> (weight on the tire; was the wrong load-rating tire applied to the 
> vehicle)?  Are there only certain tire brands/model families that have 
> proven more susceptible to failure than others?  What is it exactly about 
> age that allegedly makes the tires more susceptible to failure?  Does this 
> age factor do more damage to unloaded/unused/unsold tires than to 
> loaded/used tires?
>
> Remember the Firestone/Ford fiasco from a few years ago?  Isn't this 20/20 
> issue pretty much the same thing - but with a new title?  (Yes, the 
> unfortunate subject family's car was a GM Astro/Safari minivan.)  Whatever 
> was resolved with the Firestone/Ford issue?
>
> Anyway, 20/20 does do good to raise awareness of the issue, but it falls 
> short of presenting facts.  I, too, would like to learn more about the 
> issue, before running to a tire store in vain hysteria to replace tires 
> just because they are old.
>
> Jason.
>
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