I agree with Dr. Science. I manufacture new kitchen cabinets. I recommend cabinets should be be replaced very 10 years. If business slows down I'll change it to 8 years.
Found your video when asking the same question, so thank you for doing this. Personally, other than tread, the main issue I find as tires age is that rubber hardens. I run 10-ply tires on a truck, which are currently approaching ~10-year mark. Plenty of tread, and not much time in the sun, yet they are pretty harsh when hitting rough spots, especially under load. I don't see a safety issue yet, but I definitely feel it. Another angle to consider is "would I buy tires that had been sitting in storage for 10 years?". Most of us wouldn't, even at a great discount.
I agree with you, I have looked but never found anything definitive. Tread wear, tire damage and weather checking are reasons to change tires but I have never seen anything about age only. I do know I have tires that are over fifty years old on a pickup that is still working fine and carried a full load. Tires that old have no date code but I have owned the truck for 51 years and the tires were on it when I bought it.
Even in my wildest DREAMS I would NOT believe a tire lasted that long.....10, 15, 20 years, maybe, but 51 years that is IMPOSSIBLE, unless the truck was stored 98% of the time or driven less than 1000 miles a year...Tires do not last me more tha 3-5 years at max and I only buy high quality tires...I do a lot of driving though...
@@DustyPearl-13 No, on impossible. My 1949 Diamond T pickup has some of the same tires that were on it when I bought it in 1970. Don't drive it that much but it will still carry a 2 ton load.
Thank you for this. I've always thought that tire dates are not as much an issue as actual tire damage, especially when you look at retreads. Obviously, retreaded tires are older than 7, 10 or more years. I've never been convinced that age alone was a factor. Your documentation is fantastic and only confirms my thoughts on this for many years. Thank you for your important research.
I appreciate your kind comments and thoughtful approach. Age is a factor...but the challenge is that nobody can say when a tire "expires" and yet I see internet experts (all the time!) telling folks that their tires are too old at X years...without any inspection. Thank you for taking the time to watch and share your thoughts.
I look back to when I got my first vehicle. Every time it was tire damage or I had too many patches from nails or screws (elected official and each tire had 4 plugs and one had a nail I did not know about so 13 penetration). I had two brand new tires fail with in 100 miles, one doughnut fails due to a pothole that just crushed the rim 4 min after one of the tire failures above. Then my malibu hitting a pothole on route 17/ I86 in Delaware county NY with a state trooper behind me. That bent the aluminum rim and crushed the side wall.
I love your videos, Ross. Entertaining and educational haha. I think the 7-10 year "rule is thumb" is applicable in the van and skoolie world for people to realize that tire life is more than just tread depth. Overall wear and sidewall cracking is important and at that 7 year mark is where that often becomes more of an issue. In the commercial world is a whole different story.
I just bought a set of tires , new, still have the small tabs on them, smell new. they were stored in a shop, they are from 2020. look good, we will see!!
Maximum of Five Years since the manufacturing of the Radial/tubeless tyres seems to be the safest period, if we run the vehicle regularly considering the conditions of the roads constructed on varieties of terrains, traffic conditions and different types of season/weather conditions in India. Thanks for the video.
I ran with 20 year old 11R 22.5 tires on my rear axle to NM and back from MT. In the summer. Kept the PSI in the correct range and had no issues. However I don't suggest you do the same.
The two leading causes of tire failure are underinflation and road hazards. Your instincts are right on track. Older tires are more prone to damage from underinflation, but if you keep the pressures right you minimize that issue. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I think its common sense in most ways with regards to replacement of tyres/tires . if they get hardned by age like they do , the added stress I would think creates a different feel to the ride ,and also an added frequency of cracking and dry rot as its termed. I dont always buy new tyres here in the UK I just by good condition , non repaired tyres, but the better the brand and more tread and less signs of aging are important more than how old . A sun baked set of any tyres somehwre warmer like west coast US i can imagine brings the aging process to the forefront a lot faster than cooler climbs... Just like carburettor seals going hard and rubber seals of any kind , I'm sure aging is quite evident well befoe a dangeous level is assumed...
The best you can do is follow what the tire manufacturers suggest and combine that with your own feeling of comfort. I do not like to keep tires on my steers that are older than 7 years, just my comfort level. I will keep tires longer on the drive axle and tag axle up to 10 years. The big reason that no one will site an exact science is they can’t, because they do not know all the conditions that your tires have been through. A tire that has hit a curb or big pothole may not last 1 year. There are so many factors at play that you cannot really do a study, and that is why they go with recommendations. I have had a blow out on a tire that was 2 years old, and I put the tire on and know that it was not subjected to any physical damage. I believe it was a manufacturing defect and luckily my tire dealer warrantied the tire for me. He did not fix the damage the tire blowout caused, and this is one thing that folks need to consider. A tire blowout can have significant consequences, the cost of a tire is not as much as the repairs to your vehicle or even worse causing an accident in which life is lost. Just some of my thoughts and ramblings, thanks for your video Ross!
These are all good points, sir! And just like you suggest, nobody can really cite an exact age because there are so many factors. But even without that, so many people spout off age limits as if they were set in stone. Question all these "experts" :-) Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts...and for watching.
I think a lot has to do with the tire getting used daily, weekly, monthly, yearly! Truck that put miles and miles on there tires every year, can run them till they wear out the tread! I did that and never worried about the tire because it was getting exercised every day. But in the Motor Home and camper world, that is not the case, the tires sit for months, sometimes years, and they do age out! Retired O/O trucker, tires were my second biggest expense, after fuel!
I agree with all of that. :-) And tires do definitely age...I don't don't see anything to support some peoples' claim that any particular age, alone, is too old. It depends... Thanks for the thoughts, sir!
SIR, thank you so much for creating this video. I purchased a car which the prior owner kept in the garage. the tires have "good tread." That said, I went to a Tire Shop to have the tires balanced. it was then I found out my two front tires were 10 years old and the rear were less than that. They refused to Balance them based on year. I was confused. I was told they cannot balance after 10 years. Discount TIRE of course tried to sell me two tires. I said no. Why am I buying two NEW tires when the tires I have still have GOOD tread? Of course I was uneasy. I actually scheduled an appointment t get 4 new tires. However, I was not happy with this. I did my research. I have always believe you don't believe everything you read on the internet and you must do your own research. THE TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR VIDEO IS SPOT ON. Science is the key component. Your video was very helpful. What you demonstrated was show me the science. It is utterly CRAZY. So, dos this mean if tires are no good after 7, 8 or 10 years, clothing, shoes, engine parts, etc. should be determined the same way. However, there is no science to prove otherwise. A person can put a pair of shoes up on the shelf for 10 yeas does this mean those of us who are NOT stupid enough to make JORDAN richer should buy new shoes if we don't wear them after ten years? My point is when you evaluate the (science) what these LAWYERS and others are saying is a BRAND NEW TIRE 10 YEARS OLD OR A TIRE WHICH HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY USED AFTER TEN YEARS IS NO GOOD. HOW? Prove this please. Therefore, those retailers selling tires should have to inform the customer that NO matter if you use the tire or not after ten years it will be no good. I bet they will never say this because then they would not make the sale. Thanks for your video.
A very important topic! Just in my experiences, I believe that two things are critical for tire life. One, proper inflation (self explanatory) and two, keeping the tires out of sunlight when not mobile. Garage the vehicle, cover the tires, whatever it takes to keep them out of the sun. As a retired FF/Paramedic, I saw a number of people die on the interstate for no other reason than having a tire problem, stopping on the shoulder and then getting splattered. This, I am a bit anal about tires. 🤷
Good and true, sir. A NHTSA study of tire debris showed that the two most common failure causes were underinflation and road hazards. And the NHTSA tire aging study found that older tires were more prone to fail the low-inflation test...so, as you say, proper inflation is super important.
I think it's more about erring on the side of caution. Having a tire blow out while you're on the freeway is not gonna be a fun experience. It's also gonna depend on how you drive or road conditions. However, having cracks or having little tread left are sure signs that you need new tires.
In the U.K. we have a new law for heavy goods and coaches that puts the age limit on tyres at 10 years old, if your found with tyres older than that it’s an mot fail or deemed unroadworthy if at a roadside inspection ect
Is that for all tire positions now? When I was researching this in the U.S., I did read that tires older than 10 years were not allowed on commercial vehicles in the steer position in the U.K.. Was that changed to include other positions/axles, too?
@@RollingLiving steer position only is illegal although the testers now get quite upset if you’ve anything approaching 10 years on a drive position so you wouldn’t want to risk it
All depends on risk you're willing to take. 10 years is the idiot mark, but even today they are still very plentiful. I wouldn't trust a tire older than 10 years on my hot rod.
One of the danger zones is New Old Stock for collectors of old military vehicles you know the types of non directional and non-directional Offroad. New Old Stock can be from the 1940s all the way through the present date on these types. I know other folks have been watching this have thought about this but weren't sure, just a heads up.
Important subject especially since the cost of replacement can be in the thousands. Guess you just have to go by age and visual inspection if you're not putting enough miles on them to wear the tread out. Sometimes all you can do is walk around the rig giving each tire a good kick and pray to God for a safe travel. There by the grace of God go I and if traveling south of the border Vaya con Dios.
Nicely stated, sir. Cracks and bubbles which would still be permissible in a commercial tire inspection are way beyond what either you or I would allow...so I feel confident that we're being safe.
So, not to be nit picky.... oh wait I am as THE BOOK is the source. NOW, I'm not saying it's a good idea to ignore regulations but if a given regulation doesn't apply to a specific application, it doesn't apply and therefore there is no regulation in that application.....SO CFR 393.75 4:40 into the vid) (d) No bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires on the front wheels. (e) A regrooved tire with a load-carrying capacity equal to or greater than 2,232 kg (4,290 pounds) shall not be used on the front wheels of any truck or truck tractor. Okay, so, my skoolie is "titled" (VT doesn't issue an actual title on vehicles over a certain age, only a transferrable registration) as a Motorhome (MH) through the state of Vermont. It's therefore NOT a BUS and (d) wouldn't apply. My front tires are rated at 6,175 pounds which is greater than (e) allows for the front tires of any TRUCK or TRUCK TRACTOR. My skoolie is "titled" at a Motorhome but it is also listed as TRUCK (TRK) so that one likely applies. Our skoolie is a 40 foot rear engine though. Those with smaller rigs or perhaps even just a conventional chassis may have tires under the CFR weight capacity for hitting the requirement. Now in reality neither of these concerns me because I simply won't run a regrooved, recapped, or retread tire on the steer axle. It's just not worth it to me as I want the least possible chance of a steer tire blowing. GOOD VIDEO
I agree with Dr. Science. I manufacture new kitchen cabinets. I recommend cabinets should be be replaced very 10 years. If business slows down I'll change it to 8 years.
Haha!
Found your video when asking the same question, so thank you for doing this. Personally, other than tread, the main issue I find as tires age is that rubber hardens. I run 10-ply tires on a truck, which are currently approaching ~10-year mark. Plenty of tread, and not much time in the sun, yet they are pretty harsh when hitting rough spots, especially under load. I don't see a safety issue yet, but I definitely feel it. Another angle to consider is "would I buy tires that had been sitting in storage for 10 years?". Most of us wouldn't, even at a great discount.
As an old biker, I depend on my tires. When the tires start showing the cracks, I'm thinking they starting to need attention.
I'm with you there.
I agree with you, I have looked but never found anything definitive. Tread wear, tire damage and weather checking are reasons to change tires but I have never seen anything about age only. I do know I have tires that are over fifty years old on a pickup that is still working fine and carried a full load. Tires that old have no date code but I have owned the truck for 51 years and the tires were on it when I bought it.
Well, that might be pushing the age envelope a bit... haha! Thanks for watching and sharing, Jim!
Even in my wildest DREAMS I would NOT believe a tire lasted that long.....10, 15, 20 years, maybe, but 51 years that is IMPOSSIBLE, unless the truck was stored 98% of the time or driven less than 1000 miles a year...Tires do not last me more tha 3-5 years at max and I only buy high quality tires...I do a lot of driving though...
@@DustyPearl-13 No, on impossible. My 1949 Diamond T pickup has some of the same tires that were on it when I bought it in 1970. Don't drive it that much but it will still carry a 2 ton load.
Thank you for this. I've always thought that tire dates are not as much an issue as actual tire damage, especially when you look at retreads. Obviously, retreaded tires are older than 7, 10 or more years. I've never been convinced that age alone was a factor. Your documentation is fantastic and only confirms my thoughts on this for many years. Thank you for your important research.
I appreciate your kind comments and thoughtful approach. Age is a factor...but the challenge is that nobody can say when a tire "expires" and yet I see internet experts (all the time!) telling folks that their tires are too old at X years...without any inspection.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and share your thoughts.
I look back to when I got my first vehicle. Every time it was tire damage or I had too many patches from nails or screws (elected official and each tire had 4 plugs and one had a nail I did not know about so 13 penetration). I had two brand new tires fail with in 100 miles, one doughnut fails due to a pothole that just crushed the rim 4 min after one of the tire failures above. Then my malibu hitting a pothole on route 17/ I86 in Delaware county NY with a state trooper behind me. That bent the aluminum rim and crushed the side wall.
I love your videos, Ross. Entertaining and educational haha. I think the 7-10 year "rule is thumb" is applicable in the van and skoolie world for people to realize that tire life is more than just tread depth. Overall wear and sidewall cracking is important and at that 7 year mark is where that often becomes more of an issue. In the commercial world is a whole different story.
I'm a dork sometimes. Thanks for putting up with me. 🙂
I just bought a set of tires , new, still have the small tabs on them, smell new. they were stored in a shop, they are from 2020. look good, we will see!!
Maximum of Five Years since the manufacturing of the Radial/tubeless tyres seems to be the safest period, if we run the vehicle regularly considering the conditions of the roads constructed on varieties of terrains, traffic conditions and different types of season/weather conditions in India. Thanks for the video.
I ran with 20 year old 11R 22.5 tires on my rear axle to NM and back from MT. In the summer. Kept the PSI in the correct range and had no issues. However I don't suggest you do the same.
The two leading causes of tire failure are underinflation and road hazards. Your instincts are right on track. Older tires are more prone to damage from underinflation, but if you keep the pressures right you minimize that issue. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I think its common sense in most ways with regards to replacement of tyres/tires .
if they get hardned by age like they do ,
the added stress I would think creates a different feel to the ride ,and also an added frequency of cracking and dry rot as its termed.
I dont always buy new tyres here in the UK I just by good condition ,
non repaired tyres, but the better the brand and more tread and less signs of aging are important more than how old .
A sun baked set of any tyres somehwre warmer like west coast US i can imagine brings the aging process to the forefront a lot faster than cooler climbs...
Just like carburettor seals going hard and rubber seals of any kind , I'm sure aging is quite evident well befoe a dangeous level is assumed...
The best you can do is follow what the tire manufacturers suggest and combine that with your own feeling of comfort. I do not like to keep tires on my steers that are older than 7 years, just my comfort level. I will keep tires longer on the drive axle and tag axle up to 10 years. The big reason that no one will site an exact science is they can’t, because they do not know all the conditions that your tires have been through. A tire that has hit a curb or big pothole may not last 1 year. There are so many factors at play that you cannot really do a study, and that is why they go with recommendations. I have had a blow out on a tire that was 2 years old, and I put the tire on and know that it was not subjected to any physical damage. I believe it was a manufacturing defect and luckily my tire dealer warrantied the tire for me. He did not fix the damage the tire blowout caused, and this is one thing that folks need to consider. A tire blowout can have significant consequences, the cost of a tire is not as much as the repairs to your vehicle or even worse causing an accident in which life is lost. Just some of my thoughts and ramblings, thanks for your video Ross!
These are all good points, sir! And just like you suggest, nobody can really cite an exact age because there are so many factors. But even without that, so many people spout off age limits as if they were set in stone. Question all these "experts" :-) Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts...and for watching.
I think a lot has to do with the tire getting used daily, weekly, monthly, yearly! Truck that put miles and miles on there tires every year, can run them till they wear out the tread! I did that and never worried about the tire because it was getting exercised every day. But in the Motor Home and camper world, that is not the case, the tires sit for months, sometimes years, and they do age out! Retired O/O trucker, tires were my second biggest expense, after fuel!
I agree with all of that. :-) And tires do definitely age...I don't don't see anything to support some peoples' claim that any particular age, alone, is too old. It depends... Thanks for the thoughts, sir!
SIR, thank you so much for creating this video. I purchased a car which the prior owner kept in the garage. the tires have "good tread." That said, I went to a Tire Shop to have the tires balanced. it was then I found out my two front tires were 10 years old and the rear were less than that. They refused to Balance them based on year. I was confused. I was told they cannot balance after 10 years. Discount TIRE of course tried to sell me two tires. I said no. Why am I buying two NEW tires when the tires I have still have GOOD tread? Of course I was uneasy. I actually scheduled an appointment t get 4 new tires. However, I was not happy with this. I did my research. I have always believe you don't believe everything you read on the internet and you must do your own research. THE TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR VIDEO IS SPOT ON. Science is the key component. Your video was very helpful. What you demonstrated was show me the science. It is utterly CRAZY. So, dos this mean if tires are no good after 7, 8 or 10 years, clothing, shoes, engine parts, etc. should be determined the same way. However, there is no science to prove otherwise. A person can put a pair of shoes up on the shelf for 10 yeas does this mean those of us who are NOT stupid enough to make JORDAN richer should buy new shoes if we don't wear them after ten years? My point is when you evaluate the (science) what these LAWYERS and others are saying is a BRAND NEW TIRE 10 YEARS OLD OR A TIRE WHICH HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY USED AFTER TEN YEARS IS NO GOOD. HOW? Prove this please. Therefore, those retailers selling tires should have to inform the customer that NO matter if you use the tire or not after ten years it will be no good. I bet they will never say this because then they would not make the sale. Thanks for your video.
I'm still driving on factory Michelin tires from 2214
A very important topic! Just in my experiences, I believe that two things are critical for tire life. One, proper inflation (self explanatory) and two, keeping the tires out of sunlight when not mobile. Garage the vehicle, cover the tires, whatever it takes to keep them out of the sun. As a retired FF/Paramedic, I saw a number of people die on the interstate for no other reason than having a tire problem, stopping on the shoulder and then getting splattered. This, I am a bit anal about tires. 🤷
Good and true, sir. A NHTSA study of tire debris showed that the two most common failure causes were underinflation and road hazards. And the NHTSA tire aging study found that older tires were more prone to fail the low-inflation test...so, as you say, proper inflation is super important.
I think it's more about erring on the side of caution. Having a tire blow out while you're on the freeway is not gonna be a fun experience. It's also gonna depend on how you drive or road conditions. However, having cracks or having little tread left are sure signs that you need new tires.
7-10 years, is my million miles of experience as a long haul driver. It really depends on psi, sun deterioration, and casing condition.
In the U.K. we have a new law for heavy goods and coaches that puts the age limit on tyres at 10 years old, if your found with tyres older than that it’s an mot fail or deemed unroadworthy if at a roadside inspection ect
Is that for all tire positions now? When I was researching this in the U.S., I did read that tires older than 10 years were not allowed on commercial vehicles in the steer position in the U.K.. Was that changed to include other positions/axles, too?
@@RollingLiving steer position only is illegal although the testers now get quite upset if you’ve anything approaching 10 years on a drive position so you wouldn’t want to risk it
All depends on risk you're willing to take. 10 years is the idiot mark, but even today they are still very plentiful. I wouldn't trust a tire older than 10 years on my hot rod.
One of the danger zones is New Old Stock for collectors of old military vehicles you know the types of non directional and non-directional Offroad. New Old Stock can be from the 1940s all the way through the present date on these types. I know other folks have been watching this have thought about this but weren't sure, just a heads up.
Important subject especially since the cost of replacement can be in the thousands. Guess you just have to go by age and visual inspection if you're not putting enough miles on them to wear the tread out. Sometimes all you can do is walk around the rig giving each tire a good kick and pray to God for a safe travel. There by the grace of God go I and if traveling south of the border Vaya con Dios.
Nicely stated, sir. Cracks and bubbles which would still be permissible in a commercial tire inspection are way beyond what either you or I would allow...so I feel confident that we're being safe.
So, not to be nit picky.... oh wait I am as THE BOOK is the source.
NOW, I'm not saying it's a good idea to ignore regulations but if a given regulation doesn't apply to a specific application, it doesn't apply and therefore there is no regulation in that application.....SO
CFR 393.75 4:40 into the vid)
(d) No bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires on the front wheels.
(e) A regrooved tire with a load-carrying capacity equal to or greater than 2,232 kg (4,290 pounds) shall not be used on the front wheels of any truck or truck tractor.
Okay, so, my skoolie is "titled" (VT doesn't issue an actual title on vehicles over a certain age, only a transferrable registration) as a Motorhome (MH) through the state of Vermont. It's therefore NOT a BUS and (d) wouldn't apply.
My front tires are rated at 6,175 pounds which is greater than (e) allows for the front tires of any TRUCK or TRUCK TRACTOR. My skoolie is "titled" at a Motorhome but it is also listed as TRUCK (TRK) so that one likely applies. Our skoolie is a 40 foot rear engine though. Those with smaller rigs or perhaps even just a conventional chassis may have tires under the CFR weight capacity for hitting the requirement.
Now in reality neither of these concerns me because I simply won't run a regrooved, recapped, or retread tire on the steer axle. It's just not worth it to me as I want the least possible chance of a steer tire blowing.
GOOD VIDEO
Mine are 22 years old and somehow have lasted 3 months of dailying it