40 PSI and two blown tires in one week!

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I think Frank once had a blowout in his trunk!

regards
Mech

One time I actually blew the sidewalls apart on an "iffy" tire with a high pressure washer- serious delamination! And I wanted to put many more miles on 'er.

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

You were, but it was still worth a laugh, "Even so, blowouts/flats are pretty rare; it's not like a daily occurance or anything." was a good line.

Ha- Oh, it was that bit! Sometimes I accidentally get a good one in there. One time my buddy and I came upon a '56 Nomad for sale... it was a COMPLETE rusted out P.O.S., practically the only salvageable bits on it were the roof and dashboard. Anyway the For Sale sign said something like $5000 and I said "He must just want to get rid of it"!

[mmmodem]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I like to extract the last possible mile outta tires. What good eco-minded person wouldn't? I don't consider blowouts and having to change tires that big an inconvenience- it takes only minutes. When I run "iffy" tires I make sure to have a good spare and tools on board. Even so, blowouts/flats are pretty rare; it's not like a daily occurance or anything.

The only exception I make is for the front of motorcycles (iffy rear tires OK).

I used to think like you. I had a pair of nearly worn front tires that were >2/32nds. I couldn't see the top Lincoln's head when I placed the penny in the groove. Probably good for another couple thousand miles I figure. Then one night, it started raining as I drove home and I hydroplaned into the median. I paid the deductible to fix my car and then drove straight to the tire place to replace the not completely bald tires. My insurance went up but since my car was approaching self-insure-worth, I decided to drop down to liability only coverage. Wow, was that an expensive mistake.

You could argue I was just careless that night. I could also argue that if I had meatier tires, I would have cleared the water better and gripped the road better.

[rmay635703]

THe tires on my commutacar are over 20 years old and always have been.

When one fails (usually a slow but too fast for me leak through cracked sidewalls) I have to find another 20 year old spacesaver to fit.

The tires last quite long, despite their age but other types of old tires can be problems because you don't know the history on them, some seem to stay perfect for decades others start to rot out in a couple years and have the sidewalls blow.

[Xist]

I really hope that my two blow-outs in one week is extremely rare, but they were basically on consecutive uses.

How is this for a weird experience? When I was eighteen I borrowed my dad's Escort. I went to see a friend whose house was situated weird. I could and had done donuts in front and wanted to, but decided to be responsible. It had just started raining. This happened fifteen years ago and I just thought of this--the only possible explanation was that I held down the accelerator and not the clutch, cranked the wheels, turned the ignition, and suddenly my head was spinning. I had done a one-eighty, blowing out the tire on the curb, and bending the frame.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by UFO

I had tires on my truck rated for 44psi, inflated to only 40psi, and these 12 year old tire treads started to separate on me. Yes, you cannot operate OLD tires, they will fail regardless of inflation pressure.

Old tires are fine, depending on condition. I know of people racing on 20+ year old tires at speeds around 300mph. It all depends on how they have been treated over the years. If exposed to harsh conditions, tires can begin failing in 7 years, maybe less.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by darcane

Old tires are fine, depending on condition. I know of people racing on 20+ year old tires at speeds around 300mph. It all depends on how they have been treated over the years. If exposed to harsh conditions, tires can begin failing in 7 years, maybe less.

Mine weren't. The tread separated. You should have felt the vibration in the steering. It was time to trash all four of them. Shame, because they had lots of tread depth, but they were hazardous.

[user removed]

I rode my 71 CB350 on the ORIGINAL tires for 200 miles. They were 40 years old and had sat flat since 1983. Wanted to make sure the oil wasn't going out the tailpipe before I paid for new tires. The bike did not run or move from 1983 until 2011. I did stay below 40 MPH. Just replaced the original (41 year old) points and condenser last week. The kid at the Honda dealer din't know what points were, had to show him in the microfilm.

regards
Mech

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by mmmodem

I used to think like you. I had a pair of nearly worn front tires that were >2/32nds. I couldn't see the top Lincoln's head when I placed the penny in the groove. Probably good for another couple thousand miles I figure. Then one night, it started raining as I drove home and I hydroplaned into the median. I paid the deductible to fix my car and then drove straight to the tire place to replace the not completely bald tires. My insurance went up but since my car was approaching self-insure-worth, I decided to drop down to liability only coverage. Wow, was that an expensive mistake.

You could argue I was just careless that night. I could also argue that if I had meatier tires, I would have cleared the water better and gripped the road better.

There's another good reason to put the best tires on the front.

[rmay635703]

My uncle blows tires every 3-6 months and they aren't cheap ones either. I think its more where and how you drive than anything.

That said I did have a very old spare tire that looked beautiful hit a curb slightly at low speed about 10 miles after that my truck was hopping like a bunny and the tire had a massive undulation.

Most of my troubles have been with belt shift on specific brands of steel belted radials, I do not believe more modern tires do this anymore also certain tires are more age resistant than others, the dealer provided energy savers on the cobalt are already showing weather marks and cracks, that and they are just about bald on the rear (never worried about rear tire condition only front)

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

had to show him in the microfilm.

What is a microfilm?

My dad probably replaces his tires every year. I imagine that some people on here change them more often. After everything, they wear out when you use them!