Topic: How old are your Tires
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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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
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.
Thanks Rod, now I'm all dirty from crawling around on the garage floor!
Oh joel said to make it really funny....
ebo
ebo
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
all my tread is 2 years old....just changed em, but I am definitely going to eyeball em as they pass 5 years.
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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.
No crystal ball here. I had been holding out for a set of red line radials but I just couldn't afford them. (Around 200 big ones per tire!!! 
) So, since I was able to, I went ahead and got the new but less expensive Firestones while I had enough cash to do it.
) So, since I was able to, I went ahead and got the new but less expensive Firestones while I had enough cash to do it.New tires always look and feel good.
Former Member
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New Albany, OH - USA
Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173
Vette(s): 1980 Coupe /
Snowcrest White /
L48, 350 /
Comp Cam /
Edelbrock Heads /
Cyclone Intake /
Holley Carb /
Holley Fuel Pump /
Patriot Headers /
Dual Exhaust /
Magnaflow Mufflers /
1964 Coupe /
Riverside Red /
L76, 327, 365hp
Just checked the Goodyear GT II's on the '80: 24th week of 2007 with less than 3000 miles on them.
Adams' Apple 2011-07-20 10:25:18
I replaced all of the tires on the '64 with brand new ones last week. The car is still in the body shop getting repainted but I will probably go over there Friday and will check the date codes.
Chuck
Chuck, so sorry that happened...........I'd would have 
ebo
I think I would hang that one in my garage for all my buds to see and ask "whats up with the schreaded tire"?
There is a guy in our vette club that has a 1981 with 16 or 17 K on it. He brags about how good the original Goodyear Eagles still look. I have pointed out to him all the dry rot and cracks between the grooves. Says well I do not really drive this car far.
I'ts black had a nice block sand, paint job done to it, and turns heads at the cruises.
I really like the guy so I'm going to hound him until he changes thoses tires. My originals look like new also until you look in the grooves, thats why they are up in the garage stored away.
ebo
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
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
Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody
Chuck - that bytes !!!
Hope it didn;t damage the body too much.
new tires all around on my 64. Did it this spring - something told me it was time.
Former Member
Send PM
New Albany, OH - USA
Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173
Vette(s): 1980 Coupe /
Snowcrest White /
L48, 350 /
Comp Cam /
Edelbrock Heads /
Cyclone Intake /
Holley Carb /
Holley Fuel Pump /
Patriot Headers /
Dual Exhaust /
Magnaflow Mufflers /
1964 Coupe /
Riverside Red /
L76, 327, 365hp
Hey Clint,
No, I was only going about 35 mph at the time. It did take the paint off around the wheel well and also burned some rubber into the paint on the rear quarter panel. But no body damage.
Long story short, the paint job was done in 1994, so I figured as long as I had it in the paint shop for this I might as well go all the way and have it completely repainted. Should get it back in about 3 weeks.
The moral of the story though is that all the tires "looked" good. But after the incident I checked the date codes, (A little late, I know.), and thery were made in 1985 and 1990. Didn't have many miles on them but the rubber was obviously shot.
Chuck
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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