One of our fellow C3VR members recently had a tire come apart as he was driving. Thank goodness no one was hurt when this happened but it brings up a good point. How old are the tires on your Corvette?
Heres how and where to find your build date:
The build date always follows the DOT number and can be either a 3 digit or 4 digit number. Its usually only on one side of the tire and can be inside or outside depending on Manufacturer and mounting. If its only a 3 digit number the first 2 will be the week of the year and the last digit will be the year. 3 digits are 90's tire. 4 digits are usually the 2000 and newer.
Hopefully you can check your tires and let us know how old your tires are. It only takes a minute or so to check.
My goal is to focus some awareness on tires that could be dangerous to you and your car.
Thanks to Mark, (babyblue 78) for putting this focus out there again.
Lets see how many answers we get.
Rodney


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The white vette and the Burb are new.

Wifes Jeep is 3007 (BFG with 60 K should be used up after this fall)

Red Vette is 213 these will be changed as soon as that project gets on the road.

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Mine are older than dry rot.
Ive got 2 new fronts coming this week.  hoping the rears will get me through to spring.


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all my tread is 2 years old....just changed em, but I am definitely going to eyeball em as they pass 5 years.

Mine are brand new.

Just two weeks ago I put a new set of the Firestone 500's in place of a set of BFG's from '03. Plenty of tread left on 'em but eight years old. Then, a few days later BB78 had an older tire come apart while driving down the road.

Just checked the Goodyear GT II's on the '80: 24th week of 2007 with less than 3000 miles on them. Adams' Apple2011-07-20 10:25:18

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Chuck

Chuck, so sorry that happened...........I'd would have   

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Hello  Rodney,

My Indy 500s were made in October 2009.  I purchased them new from the factory dealership in Mayish 2010.

I wonder if the tire treatments we spray on may contribute to the break downs.  I have not read or heard of any connection.... just wondering.

Glad everybody is well and safe.

Keith


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Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody

Chuck - that bytes !!!

Hey Clint,

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Chuck

Looks can be deceiving!!!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Current tires (GOOYEAR EAGLE GTII) are one year old. The previous tires were Firestone S/S Radials. They looked great, lots of tread and no obvious drying of the rubber. But, they lost air every night overnight from 30 psi down to 15 psi. The tire shop said they could not find a DOT rating on them or even a date code!

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Joe T

[QUOTE=kwoody]I wonder if the tire treatments we spray on may contribute to the break downs.  I have not read or heard of any connection.... just wondering.[/QUOTE]

I think so. Got no proof of it, but I think the stuff some folks use to keep their tars clean & shiny WILL deteriorate the rubber quicker, especially if the car sits outside most of the time, in the heat, and cold.
I saw a tech article a long time ago about using Armor All, and how it was contributing to the destruction of certain interior parts, depending on the actual make-up of the parts(plastic, vinyl, etc). This wasn't an ad for a competing product, but an actual lab tested research project. Wish I could remember where I found it. Since then, I have been really leery of using anything on my interior if the car will be outside afterward.

I just can't see using a petroleum derived product on (tire)rubber that won't cause a problem eventually. Park in a puddle of oil, and see what happens to your tire(s) after a week or so....they git skwishy!


btw...the tars on the '74 are the same ones I bought for it in 1998...
Adams' Apple2011-07-20 10:30:06

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Joel,
that makes them there tars about 13 years old What I really want to know is how do you know about parking your tars in oil for a week or so to find they get squishey  Cant wait to hear this one you got an oil field in your backyard!
Rodney


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I purchased new Indy 500s in 2005. As of today, does they have 0 miles on them. So.... are they still good or should I get new ones?  The car should be road ready in 2012.... I hope.

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Corvettes and women are the same...You want to make love to them but they keep breaking down.

You better get busy, Dennis!!!!!     

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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[QUOTE=rod7515]What I really want to know is how do you know about parking your tars in oil for a week or so to find they get squishey  [/QUOTE]

Never said it was any of my cars...
It's just a common fact...petroleum-based oils will react with the rubber compounds used in tires, and soften them. Did you know that the black color of the rubber in tires comes from carbon black...which is one of the byproducts of refined oil? It's prolly also the reason they weather crack and fail!


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Took the vette for its yearly inspection and had them check the date on tires. Ready for this one...built in 1999. Needless to say I went ahead and anted up for new ones. Sure hated to do it the old tires still looked new, but I figured it is better to unload $550 on new tires than a few thousand for body work from a blown tire.

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Blowouts and Vettes do NOT go well together!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Reading all this and some other forums got me jumpy to checked mine today on old 1981 and date code was 4602 so based on info my threads were borne on 46th week of 2002......so think a new set of threads will be in near future. They still look good and good thread....but 2002, that's 9 years old now.

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Tommy

Hope this isn't off topic, but if we had a blowout that caused damage to our car, would our collector car insurance cover the damage? Just curious as to whether anyone has experienced this.

mine look nearly new. but the date code is 2001. Had I known that I would have never put her on the road, just because they look good doesnt mean that they arent as one person posted on my accident post.

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So since I need to replace mine (they show being made in 2004 - 8 years old!), what are the options folks recommend?  I have Goodyear Eagle GT II now, but I don't think those are available anymore - right?

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

I just replaced my 10 year old Firehawks with 4 new Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s.  I was pleased with the first set and stayed with Firestone.  Bought locally $523.00 for the set mounted and balanced and out the door. Im pleased with the ways they ride and drive.

Marshall, get the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires and you won't regret it. Great ride, handling, and best of all, outstanding wet traction! And as mentioned above, reasonably piriced also! you won't be sorry!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Firestones on mine, very pleased with them.

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

I still have the original spare. It has to go before this season.

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I know first hand of how this can happen. I bought my '77 last June. It had been mostly setting for over 3 years. It had Firehawk Performance tires on it and the tread looked good. I took it for a cruise soon after I bought it and was caught in the rain on a 2 lane curvey state highway. When I was going through a small town at about 25 MPH the right rear tire blew out though the tread. I was very fortunate that it didn't happen sooner! I replaced them all with Generals immediately.

Just another widdle tid-bit of info on tire dates...just because you just bought a new set, that doesn't mean the tires are not old. Some places might have tires sitting on the shelves for quite a while before they sell them. You could buy a set of tire today that were actually produced 2-3 years ago...ya just never know unless you look first.
Granted, a major tire store/supplier will prolly have the freshest inventory, but still...it never hurts to check before getting them mounted.


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

My tires are from 1998 too.  

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Yep, Joel is right about old tires on the rack for sale.  I checked the date code on mine at the tire place, they were hardly cool from the molding machine, 2 months old.

My Indy 500's made very early 2005, in like new condition and never see outdoors unless running....what do you think

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DanT

Having a bit of trouble locating the Firestones.  Anything against BFG Radial T/A's?

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

Is there any way (other than the age of the tire) to get a sense if the tires are in danger of having issues?  As I said, my tires were made in 2004, but everything looks good on them.

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

Check between the treads and see if there are any cracks.

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

I found new "fins" for my shark last year.  Eagle GT II's.  Got them for $125.00 each  I put all 4 on.  I notice the difference in the ride.  Previous tires wer on the car when I bought her in 2007.  She is still "stiring in the tank" waiting for good weather!!

|UPDATED|3/12/2012 8:09:24 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Marshall!!  I got 4 last year from Chicago.  Want me to locate some for you??  Let me know.

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Thanks for the offer Dan, but I'm still in limbo on my decision...

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

Hi Everyone, 

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�

I still have the original Goodyear P195/80D15 Polyspare tire for my '80. 

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Chuck