Crapped. 2 tires have bubbles.

[XyKo]

Was taking pictures of my car today and found out that the 2 rear tires have bubble on the sides/edge of the tires.

Tires are: Toyo 800 Ultra Premium. Tires were purchased in 1998 with 45K on the odometer. Now it's 84K and the tires still have alot of treads left on them.

Guess I'll just buy 2 replacement and put those on the fronts and the other 2 Toyo in the rears. Any specific tires to get? Current size is 175/70/13. Or should I just replace all 4 tires with stock size and keep the other 2 as spares?

[Miller88]

Personally, I wouldn't trust a tire over 5 or 6 years old. They wear quicker and are more prone to blowouts at the older age.

[Katana]

Yes get replacement ones. My father does MOT tests (British government road worthiness test) for a living and having bubbles or bulges on the tires would be cause to fail the car, as i learned when he found some while checking over my car a while back. Something about how the bubble is equivalent to a hernia would be on a person, to paraphrase him.

Basically if it looks dodgy get a new tires since you don't want to mess around not getting something as important as them.

[TrikeKid]

Originally Posted by Miller88

Personally, I wouldn't trust a tire over 5 or 6 years old. They wear quicker and are more prone to blowouts at the older age.

Unless the tire has real damage like in the case of sidewall "bubbles" (sounds more like a broken belt/cord if I'm visualizing it correctly) and it isn't worn out, there really isn't a need to replace it. I've seen some pretty scary looking tires (from a dry rot perspective) make it till they wore out. I wouldn't have driven on them, but the owners did just fine. I wouldn't fiddle around with running tires with busted cords like that, replace them. Tiny tires like that are far cheaper than totaling your car when one blows out.

[jesse.rizzo]

I don't know if you should replace them or not, but if you get two new ones, they go on the rear and the old ones should go up front.

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by XyKo

Was taking pictures of my car today and found out that the 2 rear tires have bubble on the sides/edge of the tires.

Tires are: Toyo 800 Ultra Premium. Tires were purchased in 1998 with 45K on the odometer. Now it's 84K and the tires still have alot of treads left on them.

Guess I'll just buy 2 replacement and put those on the fronts and the other 2 Toyo in the rears. Any specific tires to get? Current size is 175/70/13. Or should I just replace all 4 tires with stock size and keep the other 2 as spares?

1998? they do go bad with age.....

[XyKo]

Well I need to find a new set asap because tomorrow is the start of "No-Tax" weekend.

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by jesse.rizzo

I don't know if you should replace them or not, but if you get two new ones, they go on the rear and the old ones should go up front.

Um, personally I would put the carp times on the rear....

[jesse.rizzo]

Nope, I just found this out when my friend had to get two new tires, the shop put them on the rear.

It turns out that it is much easier to regain control if your front end slides out than if the rear end does. Also, in a panic situation, most people's instinct is to brake, which puts more weight and thus more traction on the front tires. So the new tires always go on the rear.

[XyKo]

No shops around have any 165/70/13 in stock! They are all special order one. Sears quoted me 175/70/13 Sumitomo HTR for $350, includes installation. While I can get the 165/70/13 from tirerack for $41 each. $200 shipped.

Or should I up the size to 175/70/13 and stick with those? There are more options and cheaper prices.

[TrikeKid]

Originally Posted by XyKo

No shops around have any 165/70/13 in stock! They are all special order one. Sears quoted me 175/70/13 Sumitomo HTR for $350, includes installation. While I can get the 165/70/13 from tirerack for $41 each. $200 shipped.

Or should I up the size to 175/70/13 and stick with those? There are more options and cheaper prices.

Might throw the speedometer off a tick, but it's only a slight difference in height, so it wouldn't be much.

[XyKo]

Yeah, I might just have to do the 175/70/13. Found Costco is selling the Michellin X Radial for $70/each with $80 off when buying 4.

$200 total and this weekend is no tax also.
Price includes:

Mounting, Balancing, Lifetime Services, Nitrogen Inflation, New Rubber Valve Stem, Environmental Tire Disposal, and the Costco Road Hazard Warranty (5 Years).

[Hacksaw]

If you are looking for mileage over handling, go with 155/80R13's they are practically indentical in height but narrower. My Metro comes stock with 155/80R13 tires and the previous owner put 175/70R13's on instead.

I just ordered these from Discount Tire and had them price match Tire Rack's price of $41.00 each:Kumho Solus KR21

Discount Tire has a $50.00 rebate if you use your Discount Tire Car Care Credit Card. With mounting, balancing, and free replacement certificates the total will be like $220.00 after rebate. Just an option...

Hacksaw.

[XyKo]

Sorry, but I need to switch these tires out before next week. School starts on the 25th, and I'm planning to drive back this Monday/Tuesday. Boston, MA to Buffalo, NY 460miles.

[XyKo]

Also, just found out that the 2 rear tires were made in March 1997! The two fronts are made in 2004, which is a relieve. Probably going to throw away the rears and try to keep the fronts as spares or sell on craigslist.

[swng]

Since this is the Ecomodder Forum, I would recommend taking this opportunity to instal some light weight low rolling resistance tires.

[Johnny Mullet]

If you are all about saving fuel then the 155/80R13 would be your best choice since they are skinny and have a low rolling resistance. Not only that, the traction will be better in the winter months. Just my 2 cents.

[XyKo]

Well, I'm having the Michelin X Radial 175/70/13 install tomorrow morning from Costco.

[Johnny Mullet]

Michelin makes a great car tire.

[whitevette]

Originally Posted by jesse.rizzo

Nope, I just found this out when my friend had to get two new tires, the shop put them on the rear.

It turns out that it is much easier to regain control if your front end slides out than if the rear end does. Also, in a panic situation, most people's instinct is to brake, which puts more weight and thus more traction on the front tires. So the new tires always go on the rear.

I just read your advice to put your crap tires on the front. This is where the steering is, right? How much trouble can you avoid with no steering control? Right! None!