At what point do you ditch a tire no matter how much tread is left? Plus other tire questions (traction, sedans)

[Shark01]

The tires on both my weekend cars turn 10 years old this year. Because they are extremely high performance cars, I’ll swap them out this year. The only reason I’ve kept them on this long is because they are garaged 99% of the time (they each only travel 1,000 miles per year). I’ll keep one front and one rear from each set as an emergency backup.

Good topic because old tires kill people.

[BostonMike7]

If the tires are 2010 dated, I would not drive on them. I might use them as garage rollers for off-season storage, but would never go faster than 5MPH on those ever again. One of my Mustangs has low-mileage, but 22 year old tires on them. I only use it for moving around the garage/driveway.

My good tires for that Mustang have less than 2K miles on them, but are 7 years old. Those will be replaced this upcoming season.

[amil23]

If they've got good tread I wouldn't worry about it too much. If the tires aren't chipping away on the tread you should be okay.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by amil23

If they've got good tread I wouldn't worry about it too much. If the tires aren't chipping away on the tread you should be okay.

Consider...

1. Weight of vehicle?
2. Condition and availability of spare tire / jack / lug wrench?
3. Temperatures?
4. Road hazards (potholes and debris)? + shoulders ?
5. Others on roadway
6. Value of vehicle?
7. Value of life? (Yours / others)
8. Trip disruption cost and solution?
9. Insurance coverage?

Maybe you're fine.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by amil23

If they've got good tread I wouldn't worry about it too much. If the tires aren't chipping away on the tread you should be okay.

That's just wrong. 10 year old tires are not safe.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by amil23

If they've got good tread I wouldn't worry about it too much. If the tires aren't chipping away on the tread you should be okay.

You must be joking. If you can still draw a breath, don’t worry about your lungs too much even though you chain smoked for 20 years.

[getatag]

Some of you folks have been sold a bill of goods from the tire manufacturers.

I've driven on old tires, really old tires. If they have been stored or parked inside a garage for their lives, if they aren't exhibiting dry rot, cracking, etc.
They are, in all probability, safe for general use. Would I gymkhana these tires? NO! Would I take them on a cross-country trip? NO! Would I take Paul Walker on a spirited drive in a Carrera GT with 9 year old tires? NO!!!!

Interesting article on tire life:

https://vehq.com/do-tires-degrade-over-time/

[steiconi]

we had loads of tread left on our 8-year old tires.
Two blew out on a remote road.
We no longer let them get past 6 years old.

YMMV

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by steiconi

we had loads of tread left on our 8-year old tires.
Two blew out on a remote road.

I've had tires less than 12 months old, with 20k miles blow out. all four between 20k and 30k.

So I never buy Goodyears anymore.

[jlawrence01]

Personally, the Michelin tires that I have had have been among the loudest tires and the most likely to have sidewall cracking. I have had poor experience with them.

Personally, I think that the OP is crazy. While I have been known to keep tires a while, 13 years borders on the hazardous.

I have a feeling that if he takes a bright light to the sidewalls of his tires that there are cracks in the sidewall.